Close database connection on SQL Server using ADO .NET - sql-server

Question

I'm connecting to database using ADO .NET:
Dim conn As SqlConnection
Dim sqlcmd As SqlCommand
Dim da As SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter
Dim table As DataTable
conn = New SqlConnection(Utilities.ConnectionString)
sqlcmd = New SqlClient.SqlCommand()
sqlcmd.Connection = conn
sqlcmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
sqlcmd.CommandText = "mySP"
sqlcmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter("#param", param1))
da = New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter()
da.SelectCommand = sqlcmd
table = New DataTable()
da.Fill(table)
conn.Close()
sqlcmd.Connection.Close()
That works good.
When I launch on SQL Server the command:
EXEC SP_WHO2
For each call made from the previous code in ADO .NET, I have in the field Command the value: "AWAITING COMMAND", and in the field Status the value is "sleeping".
What does this means? The connection to database is still active? What should I do in order to close db connection?

Answer 1

The fact that after few hours you receive errors about connections exausted means that somewhere in your code you don't dispose correctly of your connection.
The code above seems correct, but what happen if you have exceptions? Are you sure to handle correctly the situation when your code exits unexpectedly from a method, due to exceptions?
The correct approach to this situation is refactoring your code.
Introduce everywhere the Using pattern. So your code above become:
Dim conn As SqlConnection
Dim sqlcmd As SqlCommand
Dim da As SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter
Dim table As DataTable
Using conn = New SqlConnection(Utilities.ConnectionString)
Using sqlcmd = New SqlClient.SqlCommand()
sqlcmd.Connection = conn
sqlcmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
sqlcmd.CommandText = "mySP"
sqlcmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter("#param", param1))
da = New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter()
da.SelectCommand = sqlcmd
table = New DataTable()
da.Fill(table)
End Using
End Using
This approach will ensure that your disposable objects (connection and command) will be released correctly and you will remove the subtle problem of connection leakings.