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SQL Server Troubleshooting

Error 14256: Cannot start job 'XXXX' (ID NNNN) because it does not have any job server(s) defined

Symptom:

When trying to start a job using SQL Server Enterprise Manager the following error is generated:

Error 14256: Cannot start job 'XXXX' (ID NNNN) because it does not have any job server(s) defined

or when using 'exec sp_start_job ...') the following error is generated:

Server: Msg 14256, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_start_job, Line NN
Cannot start job 'XXXX' (ID NNNN) because it does not have any job server(s) defined.

Where 'XXXX' is the name of the job and 'NNNN' is the job's unique ID.

Cause:

Each job must have a server associated with it on which the job will be run.

Possible Remedies:

If using SQL Server Enterprise Manager:

  1. Open the properties of the job (expand the server within SQL Server Enterprise Manager, open Management, open SQL Server Agent, select jobs and right click the job that failed to start and select 'properties').

  2. Click either 'Target local server' or 'Target multiple servers'. Typically the 'Target multiple servers' option will be greyed out. Be sure to click the 'Target local servers' even if it is the only option available, the 'Apply' button will then become enabled.

  3. Click 'Apply'.

If using T-SQL, specify the server using sp_add_jobserver, e.g:

exec sp_add_jobserver
  @job_name="NNNN",
  @server_name="(local)"

substitute the name of the server in the above if it is not the local server that is to be used.