SharePoint search error: Application server administration job failed for service instance Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Administation.Search

While working with SharePoint Search, I got an error saying that “Application Server Administration job failed for service instance Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Administration.SearchServiceInstance”.

I have changed the service application user instances and reset the index to be crawled. 

Tried to create a new search application with same search crawls and indexes. But neither was worked in my case. Digging into deep I have found this blog explain the cause and solution for problem.

We can get this error when configuration DB having older data than file system data in front end server. We can fix this issue by using the steps below,

• Navigate to windows service and stop SharePoint Timer Services, Open SharePoint cache folder located in “C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\SharePoint\Config”. Check for Config.ini file, Backup the file.

• Delete all XML configuration files in GUID folder other than Config.ini file and double click on Cache.ini file. Select all the data and click n delete. Enter “1” (number 1), save and close the file. 

• Start Windows SharePoint service.  Now file system will be re stored with all the configuration files in GUID folder.

It worked for me. Hope this helps.

Create a crawl rule in SharePoint search

We can add a crawl rule in SharePoint search to include or remove the content in a specific path while crawling the content. We have to provide the credentials to crawl the data. We can test/delete/reorder the content by using crawl rules.

To create or edit crawl rule we have to follow the steps below,

Navigate Application management in SharePoint central Administration and click on manage Service Applications link.

Select Search service application to add the crawl rule. We'll navigate to Search service application. In Search Service Administration page, click on Crawl Rules in Crawling section.

To create new crawl rule click on New Crawl Rule.

In Add Crawl Rule page, Path section enter path of the rule. We can use regular expressions in the path box. To use regular expressions select "Use regular expression syntax for matching this rule

In Crawl Configuration section, to exclude all the items in the specified path select Exclude all items in this path. Select Exclude complex URLs to exclude URLs that containing parameters use? notation. To include all items in the path to be crawled select Include all items in this path option.

In Specify Authentication section, Select Use the default content access account to use default content access account. To specify different credentials, select Specify a different content access account. Enter Account name in and Password. To prevent basic authentication select Do not allow Basic Authentication checkbox. To Use certificate for authentication, select Specify from credentials and expand certificate and select certificate. to use form credentials for authentication select specify form credentials and enter form URL in Form URL box, enter credentials. To use Cookies, select Use cookie for crawling. select Obtain cookie from a URL. Select Anonymous access to allow anonymous access. Click on ok to save settings.