- A
The source SQL Server query command timeout is set to 1 hour; increase the command timeout or use staging copy.
The default command timeout for SQL source is 30 minutes, but if set to 1 hour, the connection closes after that. Increasing timeout or using staging copy resolves it.
- B
The network bandwidth is insufficient; use a faster network connection.
Why wrong: While bandwidth is low, the error is connection closed, not timeout due to bandwidth.
- C
The copy activity is using a single parallel copy; increase the degree of copy parallelism.
Why wrong: Increasing parallelism can speed up but does not address timeout.
- D
The Self-Hosted Integration Runtime (SHIR) has a time-to-live (TTL) setting that is too short; extend the TTL.
Why wrong: SHIR TTL is for keeping warm, not for copy activity timeout.
Quick Answer
The answer is to increase the SQL command timeout or use a staging copy, because the 'Connection closed' error after exactly one hour reveals that the source SQL Server query command timeout—defaulting to 60 minutes—has been exceeded during the ADF copy activity. When moving 500 GB over a slow network, the query execution time surpasses this limit, forcing the connection to drop. On the DP-203 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of ADF’s source timeout settings versus network throttling; a common trap is to blame the network or Azure Blob Storage, when the real culprit is the SQL Server’s internal query timeout. Remember that the default command timeout for SQL Server in ADF is 60 minutes, so any failure at that exact mark points to the timeout, not a connectivity issue. A staging copy helps by breaking the large dataset into manageable chunks, reducing per-query duration. Memory tip: “One hour, one timeout—if it fails at sixty, the query’s too nifty.”
DP-203 Develop data processing Practice Question
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of develop data processing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You have a pipeline in Azure Data Factory that copies data from an on-premises SQL Server to Azure Blob Storage. The pipeline fails with a 'Connection closed' error after 1 hour. The data volume is 500 GB over a slow network. What is the most likely cause and solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The source SQL Server query command timeout is set to 1 hour; increase the command timeout or use staging copy.
The 'Connection closed' error after exactly 1 hour indicates the SQL Server source query command timeout (default 60 minutes) is being hit. When copying 500 GB over a slow network, the query execution exceeds this timeout, causing the connection to drop. Increasing the command timeout or using staging copy (which breaks the query into chunks) resolves this by allowing the query to run longer or reducing the per-query duration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The source SQL Server query command timeout is set to 1 hour; increase the command timeout or use staging copy.
Why this is correct
The default command timeout for SQL source is 30 minutes, but if set to 1 hour, the connection closes after that. Increasing timeout or using staging copy resolves it.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The network bandwidth is insufficient; use a faster network connection.
Why it's wrong here
While bandwidth is low, the error is connection closed, not timeout due to bandwidth.
- ✗
The copy activity is using a single parallel copy; increase the degree of copy parallelism.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing parallelism can speed up but does not address timeout.
- ✗
The Self-Hosted Integration Runtime (SHIR) has a time-to-live (TTL) setting that is too short; extend the TTL.
Why it's wrong here
SHIR TTL is for keeping warm, not for copy activity timeout.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse a network bandwidth issue (Option B) with a command timeout, but the exact 1-hour failure is a dead giveaway of the default SQL command timeout, not a generic connectivity problem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The default SQL Server command timeout in ADX copy activity is 60 minutes (3600 seconds), controlled by the 'commandTimeout' property. When copying large datasets, the source query must complete within this window; otherwise, the SQL Server driver closes the connection. Staging copy uses PolyBase or COPY INTO to stage data in Blob Storage first, then loads it in parallel, bypassing the single-query timeout. In real-world scenarios, network latency amplifies this issue because the query execution time includes data transfer overhead.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Develop data processing — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-203 question test?
Develop data processing — This question tests Develop data processing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The source SQL Server query command timeout is set to 1 hour; increase the command timeout or use staging copy. — The 'Connection closed' error after exactly 1 hour indicates the SQL Server source query command timeout (default 60 minutes) is being hit. When copying 500 GB over a slow network, the query execution exceeds this timeout, causing the connection to drop. Increasing the command timeout or using staging copy (which breaks the query into chunks) resolves this by allowing the query to run longer or reducing the per-query duration.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This DP-203 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-203 exam.
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