SQL Server 2025 Public Preview Maintenance Wizard plan runtime error

Question

2 issues with Maintenance Plans - for some reason now I cant modify or create any new Maint Plans. Not available and greyed out.

When creating any Maintenance wizard plans such as "Misc Cleanup" or DB "Integrity check" scans I am getting this error when I execute: Message

Executed as user: NT Service\SQLAgent$SQL2025. Microsoft (R) SQL Server Execute Package Utility Version 17.0.700.9 for 32-bit Copyright (C) 2025 Microsoft. All rights reserved. Started: 11:59:25 AM Error: 2025-07-01 11:59:26.37 Code: 0xC0024102 Source: Reporting Task for subplan-{4FDDD68F-25DA-4E08-9117-DB03F194A2D3} Description: The Validate method on the task failed, and returned error code 0x80070002 (Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Data.SqlClient, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=23ec7fc2d6eaa4a5' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.). The Validate method must succeed and indicate the result using an "out" parameter. End Error Error: 2025-07-01 11:59:26.37 Code: 0xC0024107 Source: Reporting Task for subplan-{4FDDD68F-25DA-4E08-9117-DB03F194A2D3} Description: There were errors during task validation. End Error DTExec: The package execution returned DTSER_FAILURE (1). Started: 11:59:25 AM Finished: 11:59:26 AM Elapsed: 0.438 seconds. The package execution failed. The step failed.

Note: Ola Hallengren Integrity scan and index optimize jobs have no issues running in SQL Agent Jobs

Answer 1

Originally, when SSMS 21 was released, support for maintenance plans (and SSIS in generate) were missing. They added it back in SSMS 21.2.5, but it seems that just upgrading is not enough. I'm on later version, and like you I find that the alternatives are greyed out. I investigate this on the SSMS Feedback site. I found that just upgrading to 21.2.5, but you need an extra step when installing, as described here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/sqlserver/announcing-the-release-of-sql-server-management-studio-ssms-21-2-5/4422488

I'm uncertain about the other errors, but try to sort out your SSMS installation first.

Note: Ola Hallengren Integrity scan and index optimize jobs have no issues running in SQL Agent Jobs

Of course, less moving parts, greater flexibility. And protection against permission hijacking. No wonder Ola's solution is so popular.