SQL Server Agent service can not start

  • Hello gents

    Version is 9.0.3042, standard edition with SP2, sql server database engine service is running fun but the agent just can't be started by either configuration manager or services.msc snapshot.

    Also I tried to change the service account from right now a domain user account to Localsystem, it failed too.

    I am local admin on this box and also the sysadmin on the instance.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks in advance!

    Bazinga!

  • Also an interesting error message:

    The SQL Server Agent (MSSQLSERVER) service on local computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they have no work to do, for example, the Performance Logs and Alerts service.

    Bazinga!

  • People are going to lynch me for this first question, but...

    When was the last time you rebooted the box?

    Has SQL Server Agent run before on this box or is it a new install?

    If the prior, what's changed on the box recently? Patches (for any software), hardware, new installs, configurations?

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Brandie Tarvin (10/21/2010)


    People are going to lynch me for this first question, but...

    When was the last time you rebooted the box?

    Has SQL Server Agent run before on this box or is it a new install?

    If the prior, what's changed on the box recently? Patches (for any software), hardware, new installs, configurations?

    Thanks very muc for your input, just have a look at all system event with ID 1074, this box was rebooted 6 months ago.

    And I am not sure if it was running before I took it over on my new postition here.

    Really can't trace what have happened inside this box since then anymore.

    Any other thoughts that I can borrow a bit more?

    Bazinga!

  • Check the Application and System logs in Event Viewer. That might help you track down the source of the issue.

    Is this a standalone server or a clustered node?

    Is this a production box?

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • I've seen this happen before where the location for the SQL Server Agent log file doesn't have the right permissions on it or doesn't exist.

    John

  • Brandie Tarvin (10/21/2010)


    Check the Application and System logs in Event Viewer. That might help you track down the source of the issue.

    Is this a standalone server or a clustered node?

    Is this a production box?

    It is a standalone production server and in the application log when the restart failed I can find:

    Event Type:Information

    Event Source:SQLSERVERAGENT

    Event Category:Service Control

    Event ID:102

    Date:21-10-2010

    Time:12:10:55

    User:N/A

    Computer:*****

    Description:

    SQLServerAgent service successfully stopped.

    For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

    Bazinga!

  • But do you see other errors before that which might be connected to the restart fail?

    John makes a good point about the log file. Find out what service SQL Agent uses, then locate the file location of the SQL Agent log. Make sure that the service account has permissions on the root folder and that those perms go all the way down to the log folder without being denied along the way.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Brandie Tarvin (10/21/2010)


    But do you see other errors before that which might be connected to the restart fail?

    John makes a good point about the log file. Find out what service SQL Agent uses, then locate the file location of the SQL Agent log. Make sure that the service account has permissions on the root folder and that those perms go all the way down to the log folder without being denied along the way.

    Thanks for your input again.

    And yes, that "service successfully stop" message is the only error log i got from my restart action.

    I am going to find the SQL Server agent log file and see its security settings.

    Bazinga!

  • Most likely this is a permissions issue of the SQL Agent startup account. Check if there are any entries in the Agent Log

    Pradeep Adiga
    Blog: sqldbadiaries.com
    Twitter: @pradeepadiga

  • Hello everyone who replied to this post, I can't say I found the definitive solution, but at least it is one of the ways you can try out, which is to reset the sql agent error log file location in msdb database and restart it again.

    Related scripts are as follows:

    sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;

    GO

    RECONFIGURE;

    GO

    sp_configure 'Agent XPs', 1;

    GO

    RECONFIGURE with override

    GO

    USE msdb

    GO

    EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_set_sqlagent_properties @errorlog_file=N'D:\Programs\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\LOG\SQLAGENT.OUT'

    GO

    Bazinga!

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