The underlying provider failed on Open Error in Entity Framework Transactions

Error:
The underlying provider failed on Open
MSDTC on server 'XXXXX\\SQLEXPRESS' is unavailable."   at System.Data.EntityClient.EntityConnection.OpenStoreConnectionIf(Boolean openCondition, DbConnection storeConnectionToOpen, DbConnection originalConnection, String exceptionCode, String attemptedOperation, Boolean& closeStoreConnectionOnFailure)\r\n   at System.Data.EntityClient.EntityConnection.Open()\r\n   at System.Data.Objects.ObjectContext.EnsureConnection()\r\n   at System.Data.Objects.ObjectContext.SaveChanges(Boolean acceptChangesDuringSave)\r\n   at System.Data.Objects.ObjectContext.SaveChanges()\r\n  

Cause:
The error The underlying provider failed on Open is thrown while performing a transactional update using Entity Framework, if the MSDTC - Distributed Transaction Coordinator service is not started.

Resolution:

Transactions in Entity Framework with DbTransaction.

In many real time scenarios we will have to use transactions to perform Atomic operation, i.e a set so statements should get executed completely or get rollback completely. A typical example of a transactions in the Bank account example, debit X amount from account A and credit the X amount to account B, now if there is an issue between debiting from account A and crediting to account B the whole operation should be cancelled.

In this post we shall see on how to perform transactions using Entity Framework and DbTransaction. Unlike the TransactionScope which needs the MSDTC - Distributed Transaction Coordinator service to be running, DbTransaction will work even if the service is not running.

In this post we will do 2 operations insert a row in the Bugs table and insert a row in the Comments table in a single transaction.

Transactions in Entity Framework with TranscationScope.

In many real time scenarios we will have to use transactions to perform Atomic operation, i.e a set so statements should get executed completely or get rollback completely. A typical example of a transactions in the Bank account example, debit X amount from account A and credit the X amount to account B, now if there is an issue between debiting from account A and crediting to account B the whole operation should be cancelled.

In this post we shall see on how to perform transactions using Entity Framework and TransactionScope. To make use of the TransactionScope we need to make sure that the MSDTC - Distributed Transaction Coordinator service is running. If the service is not running then the code will throw the following error.
The underlying provider failed on Open

In this post we will do 2 operations update the Bugs table and insert a row in the Comments table in a single transaction.

TranscationScope Vs DbTransaction

A transaction is an atomic operation, i.e a set so statements should get executed completely or get rollback completely. A typical example of a transactions in the Bank account example, debit X amount from account A and credit the X amount to account B, now if there is an issue between debiting from account A and crediting to account B the whole operation should be cancelled.

Transactions in the Entity Framework can be performed using 2 ways, using TranscationScope or by using DbTransaction. In this post we shall compare the 2 approaches.

Transactions in Entity Framework

A transaction is an atomic operation, i.e a set so statements should get executed completely or get rollback completely. A typical example of a transactions in the Bank account example, debit X amount from account A and credit the X amount to account B, now if there is an issue between debiting from account A and crediting to account B the whole operation should be cancelled.

Transactions in the Entity Framework can be performed using 2 ways, using TranscationScope or by using DbTransaction. In this post we shall compare the 2 approaches.