Fail-Safe Operator for SQL Server Agent

Fail-Safe Operator for SQL Server Agent

Category: Reliability
What is a Fail-Safe Operator in SQL Server?
A fail-safe operator is a backup user that receives an alert when the designated operator cannot be reached.
It will be used when SQL Server Agent fails to communicate with the system tables in the MSDB database. A fail-safe operator will also receive notifications if you have operators scheduled to receive notifications only during certain periods and the notification is outside that range.

For example, if no operator is set to receive notification on Sunday, the notification will automatically go to the safe operator.

How to identify the problem? How to fix it?

Microsoft’s best practices recommend that you set a fail-safe operator. You can do this using SQL Server Management Studio by following the steps below:

1. In Object Explorer, click the plus sign to expand the server that contains the SQL Server Agent operator you want to designate as secure.
2. Right-click the SQL Server Agent and select Properties.
3. In SQL Server Agent Properties, under Select a page, select Alert System.
4. Under Fail-safe operator, select Enable fail-safe operator.
5. In the Operator list, select the operator you want to make a fail-safe.
6. Select any or all of the following check boxes to specify how the operator will be notified: Email, Pager or Net send.
7. When finished, click OK.

Notes

1- You must have Database Mail configured first;
2- You must also have an operator configured.