When you check the event viewer log of SharePoint server, you would get this error.
We might assume, it could be to do with some load balancer configuration issue.
Some of them would propose you to restart the search service which is good for short term fix but this would continue after an or so.
This issue is due to Search Query and site settings configured incorrectly. Meaning, search query and site setting role enabled. When your search service runs, this service will attempt to execute queries on its host server. Now, if you have not configured your Search Service on this host server, you will receive this error in your logs.
To fix, run the below command:
- PS> $qssInstance = Get-SPEnterpriseSearchQueryAndSiteSettingsServiceInstance -local
- PS> $qssInstance
This would return the status as online or not along with id and service name.
Stop the service on the server which is not configured for search query role with below command or UI through central admin.
- PS>$qssInstance = Get-SPEnterpriseSearchQueryAndSiteSettingsServiceInstance -LocalStop-SPEnterpriseSearchQueryAndSiteSettingsServiceInstance -Identity $qssInstance
- PS>$qssInstance
Now that error should not appear.