SQLAgent Service Fails to Start

SQLAgent Service Fails to Start Sometimes for Named Instances

Symptom:

On named instances of Microsoft SQL Server where SIOS Protection Suite is protecting the SQLAgent service, when the resource is originally brought in service, a SQL problem prevents this service from starting and forces a MAXWAIT situation (300 second delay) before the SQL gives up trying to start the SQLAgent service.

This message indicates that the INFO field of the SQL resource has become corrupted. You must delete and re-create the SQL resource. Note that you should remove any IP and volume dependencies prior to deleting the resource. Upon creating the new SQL resource, SIOS Protection Suite will re-create the dependencies.

If the Microsoft SQL Server service is already started on the system where the SQLAgent service is trying to start, you’ll likely see this scenario.

If the SQLAgent service and the Microsoft SQL Server service are both started when the SQL hierarchy creation occurs, you will not see this issue.

Suggested Actions:

Stopping and starting the Microsoft SQL Server service usually clears up the problem and the SQL Agent service then starts. However, stopping the SQL Server service is not a good option.

Both the MSSQLServer and the SQLServerAgent service should start up properly using the Local System Account on the default instance or a named instance. They will both start up using a Domain Administrator account, provided you have added that Domain Admin account to the Local Administrator Group on each system.