SQL Server Agent is not running

Question

Hello

I'm new to SQL Server and also new to Sql Server Migration Assistant, so I'm really not sure if this is a SSMA problem or an installation problem.  I would like to migrate a mysql database to SQL Server Express.   I have Sql Server 2008 R2 Express installed on my machine.  I also have Sql Server Migration Assistant installed on my machine.  Sql Server appears to be installed correctly.

When I start SSMA, I can create a project and connect to my MySQL database, however, when I try to connect to the local instance of SQL Server, I receive an Operation Prerequisites Not Met error:  Common Requirement - SQL Server Agent is not running. You must start SQL Server Agent to use Server-side data migration engine.

I then go to the Sql Server configuration Manager and attempt to start the Sql Server Agent (SQLEXPRESS), which is stopped.  This is where I have problems.  When I right mouse click on the Sql Server Agent, all the options (Start, stop, pause, resume, restart) are not active.  Only Properties and help are selectable. 

For Properties, the service status is stopped and there does not appear to be any way to start it.  If I attempt to change the start mode to automatic, I receive "remote procedure called failed".

I have two questions, why is this happening (probably an installation issue) and also if I ignore the error message by pressing the continue button, SSMA appears to successfully convert the schema, but fails to migrate any data, indicating that all the SQL server tables do not exist, "You must first convert the table and then load it into the database".  Is it correct to assume that the failure to migrate is due to Sql service agent not running?

Thanks for your help, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

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Robotuner

Answer 1

Hi,

SQL Agent is not available in SQL Server Express Editions.  Your best bet would be to install any other edition of SQL Server and use the SSMA tool to migrate your MySQL database.

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Regards, Bru Medishetty --- www.LearnSQLWithBru.com

Answer 2

Thanks, I have been playing with it further and it appears that SSMA will work (at least in some cases) in spite of the SQL Agent not running message. 

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Robotuner

Answer 3

SQL Agent is for server-side data migration. SSMA also supports client-side data migration (which is actually the default setting now). So it won't prevent you from migrating to SQL Server express edition.

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Hope it helps.