For some reason – still to be discovered – I once in a while get a number sequence error while activating a POS.
It’s not super informative but going through the event log we find this:
An exception of type: 'Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.StorageException' occurred while executing Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Messages.StartSessionRequest request by Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Workflow.Security.StartSessionRequestHandler. Error resource id: 'Microsoft_Dynamics_Commerce_Runtime_CriticalStorageError', Exception: Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.StorageException: Failed to read from the database. See inner exception for details DatabaseErrorCode: 0 ---> Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Data.DatabaseException: Violation of PRIMARY KEY constraint 'I_-1558077251_-1679712867'. Cannot insert duplicate key in object 'ax.RETAILTRANSACTIONTABLE'. The duplicate key value is (<removed by me to anonymize the data>). The statement has been terminated. ---> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Violation of PRIMARY KEY constraint 'I_-1558077251_-1679712867'. Cannot insert duplicate key in object 'ax.RETAILTRANSACTIONTABLE'. The duplicate key value is (<removed by me to anonymize the data>). The statement has been terminated. at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection, Action`1 wrapCloseInAction) at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj, Boolean callerHasConnectionLock, Boolean asyncClose) at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.TryRun(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj, Boolean& dataReady) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.TryConsumeMetaData() at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.get_MetaData() at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.FinishExecuteReader(SqlDataReader ds, RunBehavior runBehavior, String resetOptionsString) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReaderTds(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, Boolean async, Int32 timeout, Task& task, Boolean asyncWrite, SqlDataReader ds, Boolean describeParameterEncryptionRequest) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method, TaskCompletionSource`1 completion, Int32 timeout, Task& task, Boolean asyncWrite) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior, String method) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader() at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataAccess.SqlServer.SqlServerDatabaseProvider.ExecuteStoredProcedure(IDatabaseConnection connection, String procedureName, IEnumerable`1 parameters, IDictionary`2 outputParameters, Action`1 resultCallback, Nullable`1& storeProcedureResultValue) --- End of inner exception stack trace --- at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataAccess.SqlServer.SqlTypeHelper.HandleException(SqlException sqlException) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataAccess.SqlServer.SqlServerDatabaseProvider.ExecuteStoredProcedure(IDatabaseConnection connection, String procedureName, IEnumerable`1 parameters, IDictionary`2 outputParameters, Action`1 resultCallback, Nullable`1& storeProcedureResultValue) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.SqlServerDatabaseContext.<>c__DisplayClass15_0.<ExecuteStoredProcedure>b__0() at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Framework.RetryPolicy.<>c__DisplayClass13_0.<ExecuteAction>b__0() at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Framework.RetryPolicy.ExecuteAction[TResult](Func`1 func, Action`3 onTransientError) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.SqlServerDatabaseContext.ExecuteStoredProcedure(String procedureName, ParameterSet parameters, ParameterSet outputParameters, Action`1 resultCallback, Int32& returnValue) --- End of inner exception stack trace --- at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.SqlServerDatabaseContext.ExecuteStoredProcedure(String procedureName, ParameterSet parameters, ParameterSet outputParameters, Action`1 resultCallback, Int32& returnValue) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.SqlServerDatabaseContext.ExecuteStoredProcedureScalar(String procedureName, ParameterSet parameters, ParameterSet outputParameters) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.TransactionLogSqlServerDataService.Save(RequestContext context, Int64 channelId, DataTable dataTable) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.TransactionLogSqlServerDataService.Save(SaveTransactionLogDataRequest request) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.DataServices.SqlServer.TransactionLogSqlServerDataService.Execute(Request request) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context, IRequestHandler handler, Boolean skipRequestTriggers) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context, IRequestHandler handler) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Services.TransactionLogService.SaveTransactionLog(SaveTransactionLogServiceRequest request) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Services.TransactionLogService.Execute(Request request) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context, IRequestHandler handler, Boolean skipRequestTriggers) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context, IRequestHandler handler) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Workflow.AuthenticationHelper.LogTransaction(RequestContext context, TransactionType transactionType, String transactionId) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.Workflow.Security.StartSessionRequestHandler.Process(StartSessionRequest request) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.SingleRequestHandler`2.Execute(Request request) at Microsoft.Dynamics.Commerce.Runtime.CommerceRuntime.Execute[TResponse](Request request, RequestContext context, IRequestHandler handler, Boolean skipRequestTriggers).
So the problem/symptom is centred around RetailTransactionTable. I haven’t found the actual source of the problem and what I’m suggesting as quick’n’dirty fix is not to be used in a live environment or anywhere else but sandboxes where it won’t affect anything close to live data.
I create a new query on the SQL server running the retail server database and use the following TSQL to rename a transaction id:
update [AxDB].[ax].[RETAILTRANSACTIONTABLE] set TRANSACTIONID = '<transactionid_found_in_event_log + something else like a B>' where TRANSACTIONID = '<transactionid_found_in_event_log>'
After that the retry button brings you back on track and the activation can continue:
As said, it ain’t pretty and I do not suggest this as a solution to be used anywhere. But it will get you passed that error. There’s probably a better solution and maybe a root source, but until then …
Oh, and I do not take any responsibility of bad things coming out of this … 
