SQL Server Health Check

The Proper Way To Setup SQL Server Alerts

Updated
14 min read
Written by
Mark Varnas

Why should you enable SQL Server alerts?

Enabling these alerts can prevent a lot of problems:

  1. Potential to miss critical issues.
  2. Missing out on catching problems proactively.
  3. Increased chance of downtime.

Which alerts should you include?

It’s a best practice for DBAs to enable SQL Server event alerts for Severity 17 or higher.

Getting notified at least on errors below creates an early warning system of issues that may escalate:

How to set up the SQL Server alerts?

First, create an operator (notification recipient) for use with alerts and jobs.

You can use the script below. Replace the name and @email_address.

USE [msdb] GO

IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysoperators
		WHERE name = 'SQL Server Alerts'
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_operator @name = N'SQL Server Alerts'
		,@enabled = 1
		,@pager_days = 0
		,@email_address = N'<insert your email address here>'
	GO

NOTE: This solution assumes that you have already completed all the required Database Mail configuration (SMTP).

Use the script below (by Glenn Berry).

It creates SQL Server alerts for severity levels 19 through 25, as well as specific alerts for errors 823, 824, 825, 832, 855, and 856.

  1. Replace the Agent operator Alert (variable @OperatorName). Make sure you have an Agent Operator defined that matches the name you supplied.
  2. Change @CategoryName as needed.

USE [msdb]
GO

-- Replace the Agent Alert if necessary.
DECLARE @OperatorName SYSNAME = N'DBA Alerts';
-- Change @CategoryName as needed
DECLARE @CategoryName SYSNAME = N'SQL Server Agent Alerts';

-- Make sure you have an Agent Operator defined that matches the name you supplied
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysoperators
		WHERE name = @OperatorName
		)
BEGIN
	RAISERROR (
			'There is no SQL Operator with a name of %s'
			,18
			,16
			,@OperatorName
			);

	RETURN;
END
ELSE
BEGIN
	PRINT 'Operator/s are setup correctly. Alerting setup will be done next...'
END

-- Add Alert Category if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM msdb.dbo.syscategories
		WHERE category_class = 2 -- ALERT
			AND category_type = 3
			AND name = @CategoryName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC dbo.sp_add_category @class = N'ALERT'
		,@type = N'NONE'
		,@name = @CategoryName;
END

-- Get the server name
DECLARE @ServerName SYSNAME = (
		SELECT @@SERVERNAME
		);
-- Alert Names start with the name of the server
DECLARE @Sev19AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 19 Error: Fatal Error in Resource';
DECLARE @Sev20AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 20 Error: Fatal Error in Current Process';
DECLARE @Sev21AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 21 Error: Fatal Error in Database Process';
DECLARE @Sev22AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 22 Error: Fatal Error: Table Integrity Suspect';
DECLARE @Sev23AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 23 Error: Fatal Error Database Integrity Suspect';
DECLARE @Sev24AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 24 Error: Fatal Hardware Error';
DECLARE @Sev25AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Sev 25 Error: Fatal Error';
DECLARE @Error823AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Error 823: A Win read or write request has failed (hardware or driver problem)';
DECLARE @Error824AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Error 824: Read page OK, but it has a problem (indicates I/O issue: failing HDD, disk firmware problems, faulty device driver, etc)';
DECLARE @Error825AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Error 825: Read-Retry Required';
DECLARE @Error832AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Error 832: Constant page has changed';
DECLARE @Error855AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Error 855: Uncorrectable hardware memory corruption detected';
DECLARE @Error856AlertName SYSNAME = N'SQL Alert - Error 856: SQL Server has detected hardware memory corruption, but has recovered the page';

-- Sev 19 Error: Fatal Error in Resource
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev19AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev19AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 19
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev19AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev19AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Sev 20 Error: Fatal Error in Current Process
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev20AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev20AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 20
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000'

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev20AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev20AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Sev 21 Error: Fatal Error in Database Process
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev21AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev21AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 21
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev21AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev21AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Sev 22 Error: Fatal Error Table Integrity Suspect
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev22AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev22AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 22
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev22AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev22AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Sev 23 Error: Fatal Error Database Integrity Suspect
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev23AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev23AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 23
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev23AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev23AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Sev 24 Error: Fatal Hardware Error
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev24AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev24AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 24
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev24AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev24AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Sev 25 Error: Fatal Error
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Sev25AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Sev25AlertName
		,@message_id = 0
		,@severity = 25
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Sev25AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Sev25AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Error823AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Error823AlertName
		,@message_id = 823
		,@severity = 0
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Error823AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Error823AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Error 824: Logical consistency-based I/O error
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Error824AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Error824AlertName
		,@message_id = 824
		,@severity = 0
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Error824AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Error824AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Error 825: Read-Retry Required
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Error825AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Error825AlertName
		,@message_id = 825
		,@severity = 0
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Error825AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Error825AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Error 832: Constant page has changed
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT name
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
		WHERE name = @Error832AlertName
		)
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Error832AlertName
		,@message_id = 832
		,@severity = 0
		,@enabled = 1
		,@delay_between_responses = 900
		,@include_event_description_in = 1
		,@category_name = @CategoryName
		,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

-- Add a notification if it does not exist
IF NOT EXISTS (
		SELECT *
		FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
		INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
		WHERE sa.name = @Error832AlertName
		)
BEGIN
	EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Error832AlertName
		,@operator_name = @OperatorName
		,@notification_method = 1;
END

-- Memory Error Correction alerts
-- Check for SQL Server 2012 or greater and Enterprise Edition
-- You also need Windows Server 2012 or greater, plus hardware that supports memory error correction
IF LEFT(CONVERT(CHAR(2), SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion')), 2) >= '11'
	AND
	SERVERPROPERTY('EngineEdition') = 3

BEGIN
	-- Error 855: Uncorrectable hardware memory corruption detected
	IF NOT EXISTS (
			SELECT name
			FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
			WHERE name = @Error855AlertName
			)
		EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Error855AlertName
			,@message_id = 855
			,@severity = 0
			,@enabled = 1
			,@delay_between_responses = 900
			,@include_event_description_in = 1
			,@category_name = @CategoryName
			,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

	-- Add a notification if it does not exist
	IF NOT EXISTS (
			SELECT *
			FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
			INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
			WHERE sa.name = @Error855AlertName
			)
	BEGIN
		EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Error855AlertName
			,@operator_name = @OperatorName
			,@notification_method = 1;
	END

	-- Error 856: SQL Server has detected hardware memory corruption, but has recovered the page
	IF NOT EXISTS (
			SELECT name
			FROM msdb.dbo.sysalerts
			WHERE name = @Error856AlertName
			)
		EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_alert @name = @Error856AlertName
			,@message_id = 856
			,@severity = 0
			,@enabled = 1
			,@delay_between_responses = 900
			,@include_event_description_in = 1
			,@category_name = @CategoryName
			,@job_id = N'00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';

	-- Add a notification if it does not exist
	IF NOT EXISTS (
			SELECT *
			FROM dbo.sysalerts AS sa
			INNER JOIN dbo.sysnotifications AS sn ON sa.id = sn.alert_id
			WHERE sa.name = @Error856AlertName
			)
	BEGIN
		EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_add_notification @alert_name = @Error856AlertName
			,@operator_name = @OperatorName
			,@notification_method = 1;
	END
END
GO

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Article by
Mark Varnas
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Hey, I'm Mark, one of the guys behind Red9. I make a living performance tuning SQL Servers and making them more stable.

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