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Manage the Database Engine Services

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Microsoft SQL Server runs on the operating systems as a service. A service is a type of application that runs in the system background. Services usually provide core operating system features, such as Web serving, event logging, or file serving. Services can run without showing a user interface on the computer desktop. The SQL Server Database Engine, SQL Server Agent, and several other SQL Server components run as services. These services typically are started when the operating system starts. This depends on what is specified during setup; some services are not started by default. This section describes the management of the various SQL Server services. Before you log in to an instance of SQL Server, you need to know how to start, stop, pause, resume, and restart an instance of SQL Server. After you are logged in, you can perform tasks such as administering the server or querying a database.

Using the SQL Server Service

When you start an instance of SQL Server Database Engine, you are starting the SQL Server service. After you start the SQL Server service, users can establish new connections to the server. The SQL Server service can be started and stopped as a service, either locally or remotely. The SQL Server service is referred to as SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) if it is the default instance, or MSSQL$*<instancename>*if it is a named instance.

Using SQL Server Configuration Manager

SQL Server Configuration Manager allows you to stop, start, or pause various SQL Server services.

Note

SQL Server Configuration Manager cannot manage SQL Server 2000 services.

You can also use SQL Server Configuration Manager to view the properties of the selected service. SQL Server Configuration Manager is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. For more information about MMC and how a snap-in works, see Windows Help.

To access SQL Server Configuration Manager

  • On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

To access SQL Server Configuration Manager Using Windows 8

Because SQL Server Configuration Manager is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console program and not a stand-alone program, SQL Server Configuration Manager not does not appear as an application when running Windows 8.0. To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the Search charm, under Apps, type SQLServerManager12.msc (for SQL Server 2014), SQLServerManager11.msc (for SQL Server 2012), or SQLServerManager10.msc for (SQL Server 2008), and then press Enter.

In this Section
Security Requirements for Managing Services Prevent Automatic Startup of an Instance of SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager)
Configure Windows Service Accounts and Permissions Change the Service Startup Account for SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager)
Run SQL Server With or Without a Network Configure Server Startup Options (SQL Server Configuration Manager)
SQL Server Browser Service (Database Engine and SSAS) Change the Password of the Accounts Used by SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager)
Database Engine Service Startup Options Configure SQL Server Error Logs
Start, Stop, Pause, Resume, Restart the Database Engine, SQL Server Agent, or SQL Server Browser Service Change Server Authentication Mode
Start SQL Server in Single-User Mode SQL Writer Service
Start SQL Server with Minimal Configuration Broadcast a Shutdown Message (Command Prompt)
Connect to Another Computer (SQL Server Configuration Manager) Log In to an Instance of SQL Server (Command Prompt)
Set an Instance of SQL Server to Start Automatically (SQL Server Configuration Manager) Configure File System Permissions for Database Engine Access

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