Background

Trying to access the database property on one of our databases.

Error

Error Message

Syntax

Property Owner is not available for Database ‘[database]’. This property may not exist for this object, or may not be retrievable due to insufficient access rights. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)

Sample

Property Owner is not available for Database ‘[AdminDB]’. This property may not exist for this object, or may not be retrievable due to insufficient access rights. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)

 

Troubleshooting

Metadata

sp_helpdb

Syntax

use master
go

exec sp_helpdb
go

Output

Explanation

1. Database
   • AdminDB
     • ~~UNKNOWN~~

sys.databases

Syntax

select 
		  tblSD.[database_id]
		, tblSD.[name]
		, tblSD.[owner_sid]
		, [owner]
			= SUSER_SNAME(tblSD.owner_sid)

from [master].[sys].[databases] tblSD
go

Output

Explanation

1. Database
   • AdminDB
     • SUSER_SNAME(sys.databases.owner_sid) returns null

 

Remediation

Alter Authorization

Syntax

use [master]
go

ALTER AUTHORIZATION
DATABASE::[database]
TO [sa]
;

Sample

use master
go

BEGIN TRAN

	exec sp_helpdb

	ALTER AUTHORIZATION 
		ON DATABASE::[AdminDB] 
		TO [sa]
		;    

	exec sp_helpdb

ROLLBACK

Output

 

Reproducible

SSMS – v2017

The error does not occur in SSMS v2017.

SSMS – v2014

Noticed it in v2014 when trying to access the database property for an orphaned database.

 

References

1. Microsoft
   • Docs > SQL > T-SQL > Statements
     • ALTER AUTHORIZATION (Transact-SQL)
       Link
   • Docs > SQL > T-SQL > Functions
     • SUSER_SNAME
       Link