"Connection Failed: \\<server_name>\root\sms\site_<site_code>"

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
The most common cause of this issue is that the "MSSQLSERVER" service isn't started (the big clue as to whether this is cause of the problem is if you look in the System Tray and see the SQL Server Service Manager with a red square ()).

There are several ways to resolve this issue:

• SQL Service Manager

• Service Manager

• Command Prompt

SQL Service Manager
Right-click the SQL Service Manager in the System Tray and select "MSSQLServer – Start" – after a short delay the SQL Service Manager icon in the System Tray should show a green triangle ()

Service Manager
Start the "MSSQLSERVER" service

Command Prompt
From a Command Prompt type:

net start MSSQLSERVER

which should return the following lines:

The MSSQLSERVER service is starting.........

The MSSQLSERVER service was started successfully.

Whichever method you use to start the MSSQLSERVER service either:

• Click on the "Connection Failed: \\<server_name>\root\sms\site_<site_code>" line in the SMS Administrator Console and press F5 to refresh the connection
   

• Close and re-open the SMS Administrator console

If this was the cause of the issue the SMS Administrator Console should now connect to the SMS Site Database.