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Could not initiate the EventLog Service for the key 'MSSQLSERVER', last error code is 5. Startup error: Unable to initialize error reporting system (reason: 5) in cluster

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Hi everyone, I have come across following issue and wanted to share resolution with you.

 

When you install Sql Server 2008 on to windows 2008 cluster, sql server agent might fail with following error message and resource may not become online.

 

SQL Agent:

2011-10-25 11:44:48 - ! [241] Startup error: Unable to initialize error reporting system (reason: 5)

2011-10-25 11:44:48 - ? [098] SQLServerAgent terminated (normally)

 

 

You may get similar error message in Sql Server Error logs as well.

 

SQL Server:

2011-10-25 10:49:48.31 Server      Error: 17156, Severity: 16, State: 1.

2011-10-25 10:49:48.31 Server      initeventlog: Could not initiate the EventLog Service for the key 'MSSQLSERVER', last error code is 5.

2011-10-25 10:49:48.31 Server      Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (RTM) - 10.50.1600.1 (X64)

                Apr  2 2010 15:48:46

                Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation

                Enterprise Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.1 <X64> (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)

 

It seems issue is more related about access problem to security event log.

when I execute Wevtutil on failing machine and compare it with working machine:

 

Failing Machine:

 

C:\Users\!hardinb1>Wevtutil gl application

name: application

enabled: true

type: Admin

owningPublisher:

isolation: Application

channelAccess: O:BAG:SYD:(D;;0xf0007;;;AN)(D;;0xf0007;;;BG)(A;;0xf0005;;;SY)(A;;

0x5;;;BA)(A;;0x1;;;S-1-5-21-2680824871-1255999119-832436803-429284)

logging:

  logFileName: %SystemRoot%\System32\Winevt\Logs\application.evtx

  retention: false

  autoBackup: false

  maxSize: 52428800

publishing:

  fileMax: 1

“Wevtutil gl application”

 

On working machine:

name: application

enabled: true

type: Admin

owningPublisher:

isolation: Application

channelAccess: O:BAG:SYD:(A;;0xf0007;;;SY)(A;;0x7;;;BA)(A;;0x7;;;SO)(A;;0x3;;;IU)(A;;0x3;;;SU)(A;;0x3;;;S-1-5-3)(A;;0x3;;;S-1-5-33)(A;;0x1;;;S-1-5-32-573)

logging:

  logFileName: %SystemRoot%\System32\Winevt\Logs\application.evtx

  retention: false

  autoBackup: false

  maxSize: 52428800

publishing:

  fileMax: 1

 

They are different, so on failing machine, I have executed following command to roll back permission to original state:

wevtutil sl application /ca:O:BAG:SYD:(A;;0xf0007;;;SY)(A;;0x7;;;BA)(A;;0x7;;;SO)(A;;0x3;;;IU)(A;;0x3;;;SU)(A;;0x3;;;S-1-5-3)(A;;0x3;;;S-1-5-33)(A;;0x1;;;S-1-5-32-573)

 

Then tried to bring sql server agent online and it worked! One thing you need to remember, if these settings were overwritten by policies, you will get same error on next reboot! Smile Please check with your AD team for policy comparison.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me.

 

Thanks

 

Kagan