A SQL Chain Error Message Appears During a Service Application Restore Operation

A SharePoint service application restore operation fails with a SQL chain error message.

Symptoms

A SharePoint service application restore operation fails with a SQL chain error message.

Causes

If the SQL Server Agent and the SharePoint Server Agent are configured to back up the following, then this error can occur when you try to perform a service application restore operation:

• The SQL Server Agent is configured to back up all the SharePoint databases.
• The SharePoint Server Agent is configured to back up all the SharePoint service application databases.

Resolution

If you use the SharePoint Server Agent to back up SharePoint service applications, then you must exclude the corresponding service application databases from the SQL server backup operation.