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Manage the SQL Agent service

What is it?​

The SQL Agent runs as a Windows service. Use the Windows Service Control Manager to start and stop the service whenever you need to:

  • Apply changes to non-dynamic settings in SQLAgent.ini.
  • Recover from a hung agent.
  • Pause the agent for maintenance.
  • Confirm the service is up after a host reboot.

The procedures below walk through both directions.

Start the agent​

Start the agent after a stop, after a reboot if the service did not auto-start, or after changing non-dynamic settings.

To start the SQL Agent, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
  2. Select SMA OpCon Agent for SQL in the Services list. The SMA OpCon Agent for SQL Properties window displays.
  3. Confirm that the Startup Type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start). If it is not, complete the following steps:
    1. Select Automatic (Delayed Start) from the Startup Type list.
    2. Select OK.
  4. Go to Action and select Start.
  5. Confirm the Status is Started.
  6. Close the Services window.

:::tip Why Automatic (Delayed Start)? Delayed Start lets other system services and dependencies finish initializing before the SQL Agent comes up, which avoids a class of startup-timing failures. SMA Technologies recommends this setting. :::

Stop the agent​

Stop the agent before applying upgrades, changing static settings, or doing maintenance that requires the service to be down.

:::caution Drain running jobs first Stopping the service while jobs are running can leave those jobs without final status reporting. Confirm running jobs are at 0 before you stop the service. See the Check for running jobs procedure in Upgrade installation for the full drain procedure. :::

To stop the SQL Agent, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
  2. Select SMA OpCon Agent for SQL in the Services list.
  3. Go to Action and select Stop.
  4. Confirm the Status is Stopped.
  5. Close the Services window.