---
title: "Configure SQL Server Agent | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: ssms
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "SQL Server Agent, configuring"
  - "accounts [SQL Server], SQL Server Agent"
  - "SQL Server Agent, permissions"
  - "security [SQL Server], SQL Server Agent"
ms.assetid: 2e361a62-9e92-4fcd-80d7-d6960f127900
author: stevestein
ms.author: sstein
manager: craigg
---
# Configure SQL Server Agent
  This topic describes how to specify some configuration options for [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent during installation of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. The full set of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent configuration options is only available within [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)], [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Management Objects (SMO), or the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent stored procedures.  
  
 **In This Topic**  
  
-   **Before you begin:**  
  
     [Limitations and Restrictions](#Restrictions)  
  
     [Security](#Security)  
  
-   [To configure SQL Server Agent](#SSMSProcedure)  
  
##  <a name="BeforeYouBegin"></a> Before You Begin  
  
###  <a name="Restrictions"></a> Limitations and Restrictions  
  
-   Click **SQL Server Agent** in Object Explorer of [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] to administer jobs, operators, alerts, and the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent service. However, Object Explorer only displays the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent node if you have permission to use it.  
  
-   Auto-restart should not be enabled for the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] service or the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent service on failover cluster instances.  
  
###  <a name="Security"></a> Security  
  
####  <a name="Permissions"></a> Permissions  
 To perform its functions, [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent must be configured to use the credentials of an account that is a member of the **sysadmin** fixed server role in [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. The account must have the following Windows permissions:  
  
-   Log on as a service (SeServiceLogonRight)  
  
-   Replace a process-level token (SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege)  
  
-   Bypass traverse checking (SeChangeNotifyPrivilege)  
  
-   Adjust memory quotas for a process (SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)  
  
 For more information about the Windows permissions required for the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent service account, see [Select an Account for the SQL Server Agent Service](select-an-account-for-the-sql-server-agent-service.md) and [Configure Windows Service Accounts and Permissions](../../database-engine/configure-windows/configure-windows-service-accounts-and-permissions.md).  
  
##  <a name="SSMSProcedure"></a> Using SQL Server Management Studio  
  
#### To configure SQL Server Agent  
  
1.  Click the **Start** button, and then, on the **Start**  menu, click **Control Panel**.  
  
2.  In Control Panel, click **System and Security**, click **Administrative Tools**, and then select **Local Security Policy**.  
  
3.  In Local Security Policy, click the chevron to expand the **Local Policies** folder, and then click the **User Rights Assignment** folder.  
  
4.  Right-click a permission that you want to configure for use with [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] and select **Properties**.  
  
5.  In the permission's properties dialog box, verify that the account under which [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent runs is listed. If not, click **Add User or Group**, enter the account under which [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent runs in the **Select Users, Computers, Service Accounts, or Groups** dialog box, and then click **OK**.  
  
6.  Repeat for each permission that you want to add to run with [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent. When finished, click **OK**.