• The article explains how to fix and prevent the error status of SharePoint content databases, which can be caused by various reasons such as database corruption, size limit, or configuration mismatch.
• The article provides step-by-step instructions on how to troubleshoot and fix the error status using tools like PowerShell, SQL Server Management Studio, SharePoint Health Analyzer, etc.

If you are using SharePoint 2019, you might encounter a problem with your content databases. Sometimes, the Database status of some of your content databases might change to “Error” on the “Content Databases” page in central administration. This can affect the functionality and performance of your SharePoint sites that use those databases.

In this article, I will explain what causes this problem, how to troubleshoot it, and how to prevent it from happening again. I will also provide some frequently asked questions (FAQ) related to this topic at the end of the article.

What causes the content databases error status?

There are several possible reasons why your content databases might go into error status. Some of the common ones are:

• The content database is offline or inaccessible in SQL Server.
• The content database is corrupted or damaged.
• The content database is out of sync with the SharePoint farm configuration.
• The content database has exceeded the maximum size limit or the number of site collections limit.
• The content database has not been upgraded properly after applying a SharePoint update or patch.

How to troubleshoot the content databases error status?

The first step to troubleshoot the content Databases Error Status is to check the status of the database in Sql Server. You can use SQL Server Management Studio or any other tool to connect to the SQL Server instance that hosts your content databases. Make sure that the database is online, accessible, and has enough disk space.

The next step is to check the status of the database in SharePoint. You can use PowerShell commands or the central administration interface to do this. Here are some examples of PowerShell commands that you can use:

• To get the status of a specific content database, use this command:

$db = Get-SPContentDatabase 'WSS_Content_MySites'
$db.Status

• To get the status of all content databases in a web application, use this command:

Get-SPContentDatabase -WebApplication 'https://mysites.contoso.com' | Select Name, Status

• To get the status of all content databases in the farm, use this command:

Get-SPContentDatabase | Select Name, Status

The possible values for the status property are:

• Online: The database is online and operational.
• Disabled: The database is online but not available for requests.
• Offline: The database is offline or inaccessible.
• Unprovisioning: The database is being removed from the farm.
• Provisioning: The database is being added to the farm.
• Upgrading: The database is being upgraded to a newer version.
• Error: The database has encountered an error and needs attention.

If the status of your content database is “Error”, you need to find out what is causing the error and how to fix it. You can use the following sources to get more information about the error:

• The ULS (Unified Logging Service) logs in SharePoint. You can find them in the %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\LOGS folder on each SharePoint server. You can use tools like ULS Viewer or Log Parser Studio to analyze them.
• The Windows Event Viewer on each SharePoint server. You can look for events related to SharePoint or SQL Server in the Application and System logs.
• The SQL Server logs on the SQL Server instance that hosts your content databases. You can find them in the SQL Server Management Studio under Management > SQL Server Logs.

You can also use tools like SharePoint Health Analyzer or SharePoint Configuration Wizard to check and fix any issues with your farm configuration or content databases.

How to fix the content databases error status?

Depending on the cause of the error, you might need to perform different actions to fix it. Here are some common scenarios and solutions:

• If the content database is offline or inaccessible in SQL Server, you need to bring it online and make sure that it has enough disk space and permissions. You can use SQL Server Management Studio or PowerShell commands to do this. For example, to bring a database online, you can use this command:

ALTER DATABASE WSS_Content_MySites SET ONLINE

• If the content database is corrupted or damaged, you need to restore it from a backup or repair it using DBCC CHECKDB command. You can use SQL Server Management Studio or PowerShell commands to do this. For example, to restore a database from a backup, you can use this command:

RESTORE DATABASE WSS_Content_MySites FROM DISK = 'C:\Backup\WSS_Content_MySites.bak' WITH REPLACE

• If the content database is out of sync with the SharePoint farm configuration, you need to synchronize it using PowerShell commands or central administration interface. For example, to synchronize a database with its web application, you can use this command:

Sync-SPContentDatabase -Identity WSS_Content_MySites -WebApplication 'https://mysites.contoso.com'

• If the content database has exceeded the maximum size limit or the number of site collections limit, you need to reduce the size of the database or split it into multiple databases. You can use PowerShell commands or central administration interface to do this. For example, to move a site collection to another database, you can use this command:

Move-SPSite 'https://mysites.contoso.com/personal/john' -DestinationDatabase WSS_Content_MySites_002

• If the content database has not been upgraded properly after applying a SharePoint update or patch, you need to upgrade it using PowerShell commands or central administration interface. For example, to upgrade a database, you can use this command:

Upgrade-SPContentDatabase -Identity WSS_Content_MySites

How to prevent the content databases error status?

To prevent the content databases error status from happening again, you need to follow some best practices and recommendations for managing your content databases. Here are some of them:

• Monitor the health and performance of your content databases regularly using tools like SharePoint Health Analyzer, Performance Monitor, SQL Server Profiler, etc.
• Backup your content databases frequently and test your backup and restore procedures.
• Apply SharePoint updates and patches in a timely manner and follow the guidance for installing and configuring them.
• Plan your content database capacity and growth and use appropriate sizing and scaling strategies.
• Use SharePoint governance policies and guidelines to control the creation and usage of site collections and content in your content databases.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some common questions and answers related to the content databases error status in SharePoint:

Question: How can I check the version of my content database?

Answer: You can use PowerShell commands or central administration interface to check the version of your content database. For example, to check the version of a specific content database, you can use this command:

$db = Get-SPContentDatabase 'WSS_Content_MySites'
$db.Version

Question: How can I change the name of my content database?

Answer: You can use PowerShell commands or SQL Server Management Studio to change the name of your content database. For example, to change the name of a content database using PowerShell, you can use these commands:

Rename-SPContentDatabase -Identity WSS_Content_MySites -Name WSS_Content_MySites_New
$db = Get-SPContentDatabase 'WSS_Content_MySites_New'
$db.RenameDatabase()

Question: How can I attach or detach a content database to or from a web application?

Answer: You can use PowerShell commands or central administration interface to attach or detach a content database to or from a web application. For example, to attach a content database to a web application using PowerShell, you can use this command:

Mount-SPContentDatabase -Name WSS_Content_MySites -WebApplication 'https://mysites.contoso.com'

To detach a content database from a web application using PowerShell, you can use this command:

Dismount-SPContentDatabase -Identity WSS_Content_MySites

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The author is not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from using the information or solutions provided in this article. Always consult with your SharePoint administrator before making any changes to your SharePoint environment.

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