Installing vCenter Server fails with the error: Please make sure SQL Server Agent service is running on the database server

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot install vCenter Server
• Installing vCenter Server fails
• You see the error:
  
  Please make sure SQL agent service is running on the database server

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x

Cause

This issue may occur if the SQL Server Agent service is not running on the SQL database or if the downloaded vCenter Server installation image (.iso or .zip) is corrupt.

Note: This issue may also occur if the database user has insufficient permissions on the database. By default, the user requires db_owner permissions on the database and the MSDB. The database user logging in to the database server must be able to see the SQL Server Agent in the Object Explorer pane. If not, contact the DBA to grant sufficient permissions to the user account.

Resolution

To resolve this issue:

1. Ensure that the SQL Server Agent service is running.
   
   To verify if the SQL Server Agent is running:
   
   
   1. Launch Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the database.
   2. In the Object Explorer, navigate to the SQL Server Agent service and check if it is running. If the service is not running, right click the service and click Start.
      
      
2. Verify if the downloaded vCenter Server installation image is corrupt. To do this, you must compare the MD5 checksum of the downloaded image with the checksum listed in the VMware Download Center.
   
   For example, to see the MD5 checksum of vCenter Server in the Download Center:
   
3. 1. Navigate to the VMware Download Center.
   2. Click VMware vCenter Server under Products.
   3. Click the Show Details link in Components.
      
   4. • The MD5 checksum for the .iso image is displayed as 729cf247aa5d33ceec431c86377eee1a
        SHA1SUM: c1e10a5fcbc1ae9d13348d43541d574c563d66f0.
      • The MD5 checksum for the .zip image is displayed as fd1441bef48a153f2807f6823790e2f0
        SHA1SUM: 31737a816ed1c08ab3a505fb6db2483f49ad7c19.

Note: To compare the MD5 checksum, you can download and use a free MD5 checker utility from the Internet.

If the MD5 checksum of the downloaded image does not match the checksum listed in the Download Center, you must download the installer files again, perform a MD5 checksum verification. and then try the installation.

Additional Information

This article only relates to the use of SQL express DB, for standard version of SQL the service agent runs as a separate service. Check for it's existence in Services.msc, if it is set to manual and has not started, you can start it and try install/upgrade again.