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SQL Agent cannot start

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Vedran Kesegic

Posted Wednesday, October 03, 2012 9:13 AM

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After clean install of SQL Server 2012 RTM Developer edition, SQL Agent fails to start with "access denied" error.
The default user setup has set is "NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT".
When I change the agent user to LOCALSYSTEM, it can start without problems.

I checked windows permission in local security policy for "NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT", and they are ok. Also, that account is sysadmin in sql. Obviously, some permission is not set correctly by installer, but I don't know what else to check.

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Post #1367772

GSquared

Posted Wednesday, October 03, 2012 9:16 AM

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Is the computer part of an AD network that might deny permissions, even if they're okay locally? I think that can be done.

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Post #1367778

Vedran Kesegic

Posted Thursday, October 04, 2012 2:49 AM

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Thanks. Computer is on a domain, but none of the required privileges is denied from AD.
I also checked folder permission, as stated in doc here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143504%28v=SQL.110%29.aspx

And found that this permissions were missing (for some reason, they were NOT set by the installer):

Instid\MSSQL\Log - Delete
110\com - Read, Execute
110\shared - Read, Execute
110\shared\Errordumps - Read, Write
ServerName\EventLog - Full control - CANNOT FIND THAT FOLDER - DOES NOT EXISTS?

Where that "EventLog" map should be ?

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Post #1368238

anthony.green

Posted Thursday, October 04, 2012 3:19 AM

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NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT is the virtual group which the account running the SQL Agent Service is granted access to so that you dont have to mess with SQL permissions.

From what I remember you cannot set a service to run as this virtual account.

What account is running the service?

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Post #1368251

Vedran Kesegic

Posted Thursday, October 04, 2012 5:49 AM

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After the initial setup, virtual account "NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT" was set to run sql agent service, as default.
But, under that account sql agent would not start (access denied).
After I changed to "LOCALSYSTEM", sql agent service started successfully.
If I try to change back to "NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT" I get "Access denied" as soon as I click on "Apply" button in the service "Log On" dialog.
Even though I got "access denied" the account indeed was changed from "LOCALSYSTEM" to "NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT",
but cannot start (Access denied).

Just for the test, i tried to give "Full control" on all drive letters to "NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT",
and still got "Access denied" from the sql agent service.
Although I could not give full control to Program Files, Program Files (x86), and Windows - "Access denied".
I am logged-in windows with my domain account which has local admin rights.

I even tried with SUBINACL:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>Subinacl /service eventlog /grant=SQLSERVERAGENT=S
eventlog : new ace for nt service\sqlserveragent
eventlog : 1 change(s)


Elapsed Time: 00 00:00:00
Done:        1, Modified        1, Failed        0, Syntax errors        0
Last Done  : eventlog

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>

But still cannot start agent service. Note "1, Failed" in the suinacl output.

Do you know where the map "ServerName\EventLog" should be, or is on your server?
Maybe that would help, because it seems I don't have that folder at all (Win7 64bit).

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blog.sqlxdetails.com - Transaction log myths - debunked!

Post #1368321

anthony.green

Posted Thursday, October 04, 2012 5:57 AM

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Please attach a screen shot of how you are managing to assign nt service\sqlserveragent to run the service within SQL config manager or services.msc as I cannot replicate it.

Post #1368325

Vedran Kesegic

Posted Thursday, October 04, 2012 7:32 AM

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Click "Browse", and type a user. Change location to local host, then "Check names":

Click OK. Leave blank password:

If I click "OK" or "Apply", I receive "Access denied" immediately.
Service account is changed, but service cannot start.

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blog.sqlxdetails.com - Transaction log myths - debunked!

Post #1368396

anthony.green

Posted Thursday, October 04, 2012 7:35 AM

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Yes that is the problem, NT SERVICE\SQLSERVERAGENT your referencing is not an account is a virtual group, you need to specify an account not a group to run a service.

What ever account you specify in the service gets added to that group.

Post #1368400

Vedran Kesegic

Posted Friday, October 05, 2012 1:18 AM

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Virtual account NT Service\SQLSERVERAGENT is the default account installer sets for sql agent, out of the box.
There is no reason that this account should not work.
For example, NT Service\MSSQLSERVER is default virtual account for sql engine and it is happily running under it,
as you can see on this screenshot:

Agent cannot start, and does not even generate SQLAGENT.OUT file.
That account has appropriate permission on the SQLAGENT.OUT file and the LOG map.
Could it be something with AD ?

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XDetails Addin - for SQL Developers and DBA
blog.sqlxdetails.com - Transaction log myths - debunked!

Post #1368849

a.ho

Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:10 PM

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All,

I have the same problem. Can anyone help ?

Angus

Post #1424318

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