SQL Server Management Studio 17.1 Mirroring bug I noticed there is a bug that when people asked about it, they were sent in the wrong direction (see final remarks below).

When trying to use SQL Server 2016 with SSMS 17.1 to create a mirrored database, the following errors might be received:


  Database is not configured for database mirroring.
  Database x cannot be opened. It is in the middle of a restore.


This error was a real PITA that cost me 2 weeks of searching as I am new to this DBA stuff, otherwise I would have gone the scripting path.

I think this is a bug in SSMS 17.1 because it works in SSMS 16.5.3. It took me quite some time to figure the real issue was the Management Studio itself, unfortunately. The interface of version 17.1 is much better compared to version 16.5.3!

Wrong suggestions and misleading solutions

Mostly it was the database mirroring/hadr_endpoint TCP://servername:port setup, restoring with NORECOVERY being forgotten in many cases, but was not the real issue when backup and restore were done correctly.
The previous Connect item has been re-created in the Azure Feedback forum as:


SSMS 17.2 (and 17.1) Mirror configuration fails because mirror database is restoring


If you are experiencing this issue, you may wish to Upvote the Azure item.

Also note that the problem shows up in the recently released SSMS 17.2, 17.4 and even 17.9 as well.