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How to: Start an Instance of SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager)

An instance of SQL Server can be stopped and started from SQL Server Configuration Manager.

To start the default instance of SQL Server

  1. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the left pane, click SQL Server Services.

  3. In the details pane, right-click SQL Server (MSSQLServer), and then click Start.

    A green arrow on the icon next to the server name and on the toolbar indicates that the server started successfully.

  4. Click OK to close SQL Server Configuration Manager.

To start a named instance of SQL Server

  1. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the left pane, click SQL Server.

  3. In the details pane, right-click the named instance of SQL Server, and then click Start.

    A green arrow on the icon next to the server name and on the toolbar indicates that the server started successfully.

  4. Click OK to close SQL Server Configuration Manager.

To start an instance of SQL Server with startup options

  1. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the left pane, click SQL Server.

  3. In the details pane, right-click the instance of SQL Server, and then click Properties.

  4. In the SQL Server (<instancename>) Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab, and then click Startup Parameters.

  5. At the end of the original text, in the Value column, type the startup parameters you want, and then click OK. Separate parameters with a semi-colon, for example, –c;-m.

  6. Stop and restart SQL Server for the parameters to take effect.

    Note

    SQL Server running on a cluster is best managed by using Cluster Administrator. For more information, see Using SQL Server Tools with Failover Clustering.