How To Fix SMMSS_ALERTS203 - Start the SQL Server Agent service

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SMMSS_ALERTS - Message class for MSSQL rz20 messages

• Message number: 203

• Message text: Start the SQL Server Agent service

The SQL Server Agent service must be started in the SQL Server instance
&INSTANCE&.

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Login to the SQL Server instance &INSTANCE& and start the SQL Server
Agent service. Be sure to set the service to automatically start when
the server is restarted.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SMMSS_ALERTS203 - Start the SQL Server Agent service ?

  The SAP error message SMMSS_ALERTS203 indicates that the SQL Server Agent service is not running. This service is essential for scheduling jobs, alerts, and other automated tasks in SQL Server, which are often used in conjunction with SAP systems for various operations, including monitoring and alerting.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the SQL Server Agent service is stopped or not running. This can happen due to various reasons, such as:
  
  The service was manually stopped.
  The SQL Server instance was restarted, and the agent did not start automatically.
  There may be configuration issues or errors preventing the service from starting.
  The SQL Server Agent service is not installed or configured properly.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the SMMSS_ALERTS203 error, you need to start the SQL Server Agent service. Here are the steps to do this:
  
  
  Open SQL Server Configuration Manager:
  
  You can find this in the Start menu under SQL Server tools or by searching for "SQL Server Configuration Manager."
  
  
  
  Locate SQL Server Agent:
  
  In the SQL Server Configuration Manager, look for the "SQL Server Services" section.
  
  
  
  Start the SQL Server Agent:
  
  Find "SQL Server Agent" in the list of services.
  Right-click on "SQL Server Agent" and select "Start."
  
  
  
  Set the Service to Start Automatically (Optional):
  
  If you want the SQL Server Agent to start automatically with the SQL Server instance, right-click on "SQL Server Agent," select "Properties," and set the "Start Mode" to "Automatic."
  
  
  
  Check for Errors:
  
  If the service fails to start, check the SQL Server error logs for any messages that might indicate why it is not starting. This can provide insight into configuration issues or other problems.
  
  
  
  Verify Permissions:
  
  Ensure that the account running the SQL Server Agent service has the necessary permissions to start the service and access the required resources.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SQL Server Agent Jobs: SQL Server Agent is responsible for executing jobs, which can include running SQL scripts, backing up databases, and sending alerts.
  Monitoring and Alerts: SAP systems often rely on SQL Server Agent for monitoring database health and sending alerts based on specific conditions.
  SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): You can also manage the SQL Server Agent through SSMS by connecting to your SQL Server instance, expanding the "SQL Server Agent" node, and managing jobs and alerts from there.
  
  If you continue to experience issues after starting the SQL Server Agent, consider consulting the SQL Server documentation or seeking assistance from a database administrator.