SharePoint V3: Search: “The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service”

Description:

Error: “The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service”


Solution:

Step 1

* Central Admin > Application Management > Office SharePoint Server Shared Services > Create or Configure this farm's shared services
* Shared Services Provider (drop down) > Edit Properties
* Edit Shared Services Provider > Index Server: Verify the index server is set

Step 2

Single Server Farm

On the MOSS 2007 server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action stop
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action start -role queryindex

Multiple Server Farm

On the MOSS 2007 Front End Web/Query server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action stop

On the MOSS 2007 Index server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action stop

On the MOSS 2007 Index server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action start -role index

On the MOSS 2007 Front End Web/Query server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action start -role query