sqlservr Application
Applies to: 
SQL Server
The sqlservr application starts, stops, pauses, and continues an instance of Microsoft SQL Server from a command prompt. Use this procedure to start Microsoft SQL Server only for troubleshooting purposes.
Syntax
sqlservr [-s instance_name] [-c] [-d master_path] [-f]
[-e error_log_path] [-l master_log_path] [-m]
[-n] [-T trace#] [-v] [-x]
Arguments
-s instance_name Specifies the instance of SQL Server to connect to. If no named instance is specified, sqlservr starts the default instance of SQL Server.
Important
When starting an instance of SQL Server, you must use the sqlservr application in the appropriate directory for that instance. For the default instance, run sqlservr from the \MSSQL\Binn directory. For a named instance, run sqlservr from the \MSSQL$instance_name\Binn directory.
-c Indicates that an instance of SQL Server is started independently of the Windows Service Control Manager. This option is used when starting SQL Server from a command prompt, to shorten the amount of time it takes for SQL Server to start.
Note
When you use this option, you cannot stop SQL Server by using SQL Server Service Manager or the net stop command, and if you log off the computer, SQL Server is stopped.)
-d master_path Indicates the fully qualified path for the master database file. There are no spaces between -d and master_path. If you do not provide this option, the existing registry parameters are used.
-f Starts an instance of SQL Server with minimal configuration. This is useful if the setting of a configuration value (for example, over-committing memory) has prevented the server from starting.
-e error_log_path
Indicates the fully qualified path for the error log file. If not specified, the default location is *\<Drive>*:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Log\Errorlog for the default instance and *\<Drive>*:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$*instance_name*\Log\Errorlog for a named instance. There are no spaces between -e and error_log_path.
-l master_log_path Indicates the fully qualified path for the master database transaction log file. There are no spaces between -l and master_log_path.
-m Indicates to start an instance of SQL Server in single-user mode. Only a single user can connect when SQL Server is started in single-user mode. The CHECKPOINT mechanism, which guarantees that completed transactions are regularly written from the disk cache to the database device, is not started. (Typically, this option is used if you experience problems with system databases that require repair.) Enables the sp_configure allow updates option. By default, allow updates is disabled.
-n Allows you to start a named instance of SQL Server. Without the -s parameter set, the default instance attempts to start. You must switch to the appropriate BINN directory for the instance at a command prompt before starting sqlservr.exe. For example, if Instance1 were to use \mssql$Instance1 for its binaries, the user must be in the \mssql$Instance1\binn directory to start sqlservr.exe -s instance1. If you start an instance of SQL Server with the -n option, it is advisable to use the -e option too, or SQL Server events are not logged.
-T trace# Indicates that an instance of SQL Server should be started with a specified trace flag (trace#) in effect. Trace flags are used to start the server with nonstandard behavior. For more information, see Trace Flags (Transact-SQL).
Important
When specifying a trace flag, use -T to pass the trace flag number. A lowercase t (-t) is accepted by SQL Server; however, -t sets other internal trace flags required by SQL Server support engineers.
-v Displays the server version number.
-x Disables the keeping of CPU time and cache-hit ratio statistics. Allows maximum performance.
Remarks
It is recommended to use the methods described in Database Engine Service Startup Options instead of using the sqlservr.exe program to start Microsoft SQL Server. In most cases, the sqlservr.exe program is only used for advanced troubleshooting or major maintenance. When SQL Server is started from the command prompt with sqlservr.exe, SQL Server does not start as a service, so you cannot stop SQL Server using net commands. Users can connect to SQL Server, but SQL Server tools show the status of the service, so SQL Server Configuration Manager correctly indicates that the service is stopped. SQL Server Management Studio can connect to the server, but it also indicates that the service is stopped.
Compatibility Support
The following parameters are obsolete and not supported in SQL Server 2019 (15.x).
| Parameter | More information |
|---|---|
| -h | In earlier versions of 32-bit instances of SQL Server to reserve virtual memory address space for Hot Add memory metadata when AWE is enabled. Supported through SQL Server 2014 (12.x). For more information, see Discontinued SQL Server Features in SQL Server 2016. |
| -g | memory_to_reserve Applies to earlier versions of 32-bit instances of SQL Server. Supported through SQL Server 2014 (12.x). Specifies an integer number of megabytes (MB) of memory that SQL Server leaves available for memory allocations within the SQL Server process, but outside the SQL Server memory pool. For more information, see the SQL Server 2014 documentation on Server Memory Configuration Options. |