SharePoint:The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service

Resolution:

There was a SharePoint farm not returning search results. The error it returned was

"The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service"

After looking at it, it was a very simple fix. The server wasn't configure to server search queries. A simple ticking of the box in central admin and it fixed the problem. To fix this:

Go to Central Admin

Operations

Services on Server

Office SharePoint Server Search Service Setting

Make sure "User this server for serving search queries" is checked.

Thats it!!!!!!!!!!

Another thing that could be causing it is the Account used to search might not have the right access needed or the Search services aren't running. Check that

• Office SharePoint Server Search and
• Windows SharePoint Services Search

Should be both running. If you're still having problems, let me know and I'll try to help you out.