Create non clustered index times out - sql-server

Question

While creating a non-clustered index on a table using SSMS, I get this message. I tried changing the timeout setting on the database thus, but it doesn't help:
USE Options ;
GO
EXEC sp_configure 'remote query timeout', 0 ;
GO
RECONFIGURE ;
GO
The sql server error:
===================================
Create failed for Index 'NonClusteredIndex-20200121-151256'. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)
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For help, click: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=15.0.18142.0+((SSMS_Rel).190722-0816)&EvtSrc=Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExceptionTemplates.FailedOperationExceptionText&EvtID=Create+Index&LinkId=20476
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Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.CreateImpl()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Index.Create()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.IndexExtender.IndexExtenderHelper.Execute(IndexAction action)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.RelationalEngineTasks.IndexTaskFormComponent.PerformTask(ITaskExecutionContext context)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.RelationalEngineTasks.IndexTaskFormComponent.Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.ITask.Perform(ITaskExecutionContext )
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.TaskForms.TaskExecutionManager.ExecuteTaskSequence(ISfcScriptCollector collector)
===================================
An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
------------------------------
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(String sqlCommand, ExecutionTypes executionType, Boolean retry)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection sqlCommands, ExecutionTypes executionType, Boolean retry)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecutionManager.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection queries, Boolean retry)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection queries, Boolean includeDbContext, Boolean executeForAlter)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.CreateImplFinish(StringCollection createQuery, ScriptingPreferences sp)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.SqlSmoObject.CreateImpl()
===================================
**Execution Timeout Expired.** The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding. (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)
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For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft%20SQL%20Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=-2&LinkId=20476
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Server Name: DELLR410
Error Number: -2
Severity: 11
State: 0
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Program Location:

Answer 1

When working with large (millions of records) tables it is advised not to use the built-in functionality of SSMS to do this but via a script. Personally I always use a remote session on the server itself when I run these scripts on large tables, to protect the execution of the script as much as I can (SSMS on my laptop might crash or the network connection gets interrupted etc).