This message essentially means the SAP Management Console (or a related tool) can’t communicate with the sapstartsrv process—the service responsible for starting, stopping, and monitoring SAP instances on Windows or Linux. Without it, you’re locked out of basic control functions.
sc query sapstartsrv_<SID> or look for SAP <SID> System in Services.msc. cannot connect to service sapstartsrv
Few things are as frustrating as firing up SAP MMC or trying to start an SAP instance, only to be met with the dreaded error: “Cannot connect to service sapstartsrv.” This message essentially means the SAP Management Console