How to stop SQL time out issue

Question

I keep getting "System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding." 9 out of 10 times when I try to see workflow history. here is what I got from the sp log. I binged the error but not finding any resolution. Spent 6 hours trying to find a solution or looking at sql log but not finding anything that stands out. I want to if any ever encounter this before and what was the fix. Thank you in advance.

// Error

Error establishing database connection. SQL Error: -2.: System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Timeout expired.  The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.    
 at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)    
 at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj)    
 at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Run(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj)    
 at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.ConsumeMetaData()    
 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)    
 at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method, DbAsyncResult result)    
 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(CommandBehavior behavior)    

Answer 1

Are you only receiving this timeout error in one particular webapp/site collection/subsite/list workflow history or does this seem to happen intermittently and not specific to any one item? Look over the suggestions provided here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/wbaer/archive/2009/10/06/intermittent-database-server-connectivity-and-microsoft-sharepoint-products-and-technologies.aspx. We increased our timeout to 45 seconds per that article, which makes a change to the server's dsn (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\14.0\Secure\configdb\DSN)