Server Remote Access

How to Open SQL Server?

This topic describes how to start, stop, pause, resume, or restart the SQL Server Database Engine, the SQL Server Agent, or the SQL Server Browser service by using SQL Server Configuration Manager, SQL Server Management Studio, net commands from a command prompt, Transact-SQL, or PowerShell.

Before you begin:

Instructions using:

What is the SQL Server Database Engine service, the SQL Server Agent service, and the SQL Server Browser service?

SQL Server components are executable programs that run as a Windows service. Programs that run as a Windows service can continue to operate without displaying any activity on the computer screen.

Database Engine service
The executable process that is the SQL Server Database Engine. The Database Engine can be the default instance (limit one per computer), or can be one of many named instances of the Database Engine. Use SQL Server Configuration Manager to determine which instances of Database Engine are installed on the computer. The default instance (if you install it) is listed as SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER). Named instances (if you install them) are listed as SQL Server. By default, SQL Server Express is installed as SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS).

SQL Server Agent service
A Windows service that executes scheduled administrative tasks, which are called jobs and alerts. For more information, see SQL Server Agent. SQL Server Agent is not available in every edition of SQL Server. For a list of features that are supported by the editions of SQL Server, see Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2016.

SQL Server Browser service
A Windows service that listens for incoming requests for SQL Server resources and provides clients information about SQL Server instances installed on the computer. A single instance of the SQL Server Browser service is used for all instances of SQL Server installed on the computer.

Additional Information

Pausing the Database Engine service prevents new users from connecting to the Database Engine, but users who are already connected can continue to work until their connections are broken. Use pause when you want to wait for users to complete work before you stop the service. This enables them to complete transactions that are in progress. Resume allows the Database Engine to accept new connections again. The SQL Server Agent service cannot be paused or resumed.

The SQL Server Configuration Manager and SQL Server Management Studio display the current status of services by using the following icons.

SQL Server Configuration Manager

A green arrow on the icon next to the service name indicates that the service is started.

A red square on the icon next to the service name indicates that the service is stopped.

Two vertical blue lines on the icon next to the service name indicates that the service is paused.

When restarting the Database Engine, a red square will indicate that the service stopped, and then a green arrow will indicate that he service started successfully.

SQL Server Management Studio

A white arrow on a green circle icon next to the service name indicates that the service is started.

A white square on a red circle icon next to the service name indicates that the service is stopped.

Two vertical white lines on a blue circle icon next to the service name indicates that the service is paused.

When using SQL Server Configuration Manager or SQL Server Management Studio, only options that are possible will be available. For example, if the service is already started, Start will be unavailable.

When running on a cluster, the SQL Server Database Engine service is best managed by using Cluster Administrator.

Permissions

By default, only members of the local administrators group can start, stop, pause, resume or restart a service. To grant non-administrators the ability to manage services, see How to grant users rights to manage services in Windows Server 2003. (The process is similar on other versions of Windows.)

Stopping the Database Engine by using the Transact-SQLSHUTDOWN command requires membership in the sysadmin or serveradmin fixed server roles, and is not transferable.