SQL Server Configuration Manager
SQL Server Configuration Manager is a tool to manage the services associated with SQL Server, to configure the network protocols used by SQL Server, and to manage the network connectivity configuration from SQL Server client computers. SQL Server Configuration Manager is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in that is available from the Start menu, or can be added to any other Microsoft Management Console display. Microsoft Management Console (mmc.exe) uses the SQLServerManager10.msc file in the Windows System32 folder to open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
SQL Server Configuration Manager and SQL Server Management Studio use Window Management Instrumentation (WMI) to view and change some server settings. WMI provides a unified way for interfacing with the API calls that manage the registry operations requested by the SQL Server tools and to provide enhanced control and manipulation over the selected SQL services of the SQL Server Configuration Manager snap-in component. For information about configuring permissions related to WMI, see How to: Configure WMI to Show Server Status in SQL Server Tools.
To start, stop, pause, resume, or configure services on another computer by using SQL Server Configuration Manager, see How to: Connect to Another Computer (SQL Server Configuration Manager).
Managing Services
Use SQL Server Configuration Manager to start, pause, resume, or stop the services, to view service properties, or to change service properties.
Changing the Accounts Used by the Services
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.
Manage Server & Client Network Protocols
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
SQL Server supports Shared Memory, TCP/IP, Named Pipes, and VIA protocols. For information about choosing a network protocols, see Choosing a Network Protocol. SQL Server does not support the Banyan VINES Sequenced Packet Protocol (SPP), Multiprotocol, AppleTalk, or NWLink IPX/SPX network protocols. Clients previously connecting with these protocols must select a different protocol to connect to SQL Server. You cannot use SQL Server Configuration Manager to configure the WinSock proxy. To configure the WinSock proxy, see your ISA Server documentation.
Important
The VIA protocol is deprecated. This feature will be removed in a future version of Microsoft SQL Server. Avoid using this feature in new development work, and plan to modify applications that currently use this feature.
See Also