Use SQL Server Configuration Manager to start, pause, resume, or stop the services, to view service properties, or to change service properties.

Manage the SQL Server services using SQL Server Configuration Manager.

Important:

Always use SQL Server tools such as SQL Server Configuration Manager to change the account used by the SQL Server or SQL Server Agent services, or to change the password for the account. In addition to changing the account name, SQL Server Configuration Manager performs additional configuration such as setting permissions in the Windows Registry so that the new account can read the SQL Server settings. Other tools such as the Windows Services Control Manager can change the account name but do not change associated settings. If the service cannot access the SQL Server portion of the registry the service may not start properly.

As an additional benefit, passwords changed using SQL Server Configuration Manager, SMO, or WMI take affect immediately without restarting the service.

SQL Server Configuration Manager allows you to configure server and client network protocols, and connectivity options. After the correct protocols are enabled, you usually do not need to change the server network connections. However, you can use SQL Server Configuration Manager if you need to reconfigure the server connections so SQL Server listens on a particular network protocol, port, or pipe. For more information about enabling protocols, see How to: Enable or Disable a Server Network Protocol (SQL Server Configuration Manager). For information about enabling access to protocols through a firewall, see Configuring the Windows Firewall to Allow SQL Server Access.

SQL Server Configuration Manager allows you to manage server and client network protocols, including the ability to force protocol encryption, view alias properties, or enable/disable a protocol.

SQL Server Configuration Manager allows you to create or remove an alias, change the order in which protocols are uses, or view properties for a server alias, including:

• Server Alias — The server alias used for the computer to which the client is connecting.
  
• Protocol — The network protocol used for the configuration entry.
  
• Connection Parameters — The parameters associated with the connection address for the network protocol configuration.
  

The SQL Server Configuration Manager also allows you to view information about failover cluster instances, though Cluster Administrator should be used for some actions such as starting and stopping the services.

Available Network Protocols

Other Resources

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