geocoding periodically returns "An unexpected error occurred processing the request"

[AndySanford]

Using API v2.1 with Silverlight 4,

trying to perform geocoding periodically returns an exception with the msg "An unexpected error occurred processing the request".  It seems the server (I'm using http://tasks.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Locators/TA_Address_NA/GeocodeServer) gets into a state sometimes where it is likely to return these errors. 

You can observe the error both via Locator.AddressToLocationsAsync() and via the web page
http://tasks.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Locators/TA_Address_NA/GeocodeServer/findAddressC...

I was geocoding for an address such as City=Boston, State=MA.

Is there a way to avoid these errors?  Maybe there is some other production server we can point to?  Right now this server doesn't seem too reliable.

Thanks!

[ChristopherHill]

Are you wired up to the Failed event handler? If there is no EventHandler provided the application will throw and unhandled exception. in the failed event you declare you can handle what you want o happen if the service throws an exception.

[AndySanford]

Hi, Christopher,

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I am wired up to the Failed event, and I handle errors coming via this Failed event and via the regular method completion event.

As I said, when the server gets into this state, it returns the error mentioned both when performing geocoding programatically, and when using the web page referenced (the web page returns the msg as text of course.)  So, it isn't really a question of how to handle the error.  The question is why the server sometimes returns this error in the first place, and if this server isn't reliable, is there a different production server we should be using instead.  Do you have any info on these questions?  We don't want to have our customers having an unreliable product.

Thanks a bunch!

[ChristopherHill]

I talked to a member of the REST team and according to him the error you posted would occur when the ArcGIS server throws an error with no error descrption or the SOC crashes. I would suggest that you repost your question to the ArcGIS Server team seeing that the problem is not directly related to our Silverlight API. There should be someone there that can better assist you with the problem you are facing.

ArcGIS Server - General
http://forums.arcgis.com/forums/8-ArcGIS-Server-General

[AndySanford]

okay, will do, and thanks for your help!

Regards,
-Andy

[arvinderbhalla]

Hi,

I am experiencing the same issue. Were you able to find a solution to this?

Thanks,
Arvinder