How To Fix SEFS081 - Crawl &1 is locked by user &2

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SEFS - End User Messages for File Search

• Message number: 081

• Message text: Crawl &1 is locked by user &2

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

What else can you do?

First, use our AnswerBot below to get a possible cause and solution (requires a premium subscription).

Also, review the in-depth Common Questions & Answers listed below; you could discover a solution there or be able to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

You can also try searching the SAP support portal (support.sap.com) but you need a special user ID to access it. It is possible that an SAP support note exists that provides additional details about the mistake or even steps for fixing it.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SEFS081 - Crawl &1 is locked by user &2 ?

  The SAP error message SEFS081 indicates that a crawl operation is locked by a specific user. This typically occurs in the context of the SAP Enterprise Search or the SAP NetWeaver Search functionality, where a crawling process is being executed to index data for search purposes.
  Cause:
  The error message "SEFS081 Crawl &1 is locked by user &2" usually arises due to one of the following reasons:
  
  Concurrent Access: Another user or process is currently running a crawl operation, which locks the crawl for other users.
  Incomplete Previous Crawl: A previous crawl operation may not have completed successfully, leaving the crawl in a locked state.
  User Lock: The user who initiated the crawl has not released the lock, or the system has not cleared the lock due to an error.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the SEFS081 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Identify the Locking User: Check which user is locking the crawl. You can do this by looking at the error message details, which will specify the user ID.
  
  
  Wait for Completion: If another user is running a crawl, you may need to wait until that process is completed. You can check the status of the crawl in the SAP system.
  
  
  Terminate the Lock: If the locking user is not actively working on the crawl, you may need to terminate the session or process that is holding the lock. This can typically be done by an administrator using transaction codes like SM12 (to view and delete locks) or SM66 (to monitor active processes).
  
  
  Check for Incomplete Crawls: If a previous crawl was interrupted, you may need to investigate the logs to determine what went wrong and resolve any issues before attempting to restart the crawl.
  
  
  Restart the Crawl: Once the lock is cleared, you can attempt to restart the crawl operation.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as:
  
  SM12: To view and manage locks.
  SM66: To monitor active processes in the system.
  SE11: To check the data dictionary and ensure that the necessary tables are available for crawling.
  
  
  
  Logs and Monitoring: Check the logs for any errors or warnings related to the crawl process. This can provide insights into why the crawl may have failed or been interrupted.
  
  
  User Permissions: Ensure that the user attempting to start the crawl has the necessary permissions to do so.
  
  
  SAP Notes: Look for any relevant SAP Notes that may address known issues or provide patches related to crawling and locking mechanisms.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the SEFS081 error and successfully manage your crawl operations in SAP.