sys.dm_os_child_instances (Transact-SQL)
Returns a row for each user instance that has been created from the parent server instance.
Important
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.
The information returned from sys.dm_os_child_instances can be used to determine the state of each User Instance (heart_beat) and to obtain the pipe name (instance_pipe_name) that can be used to create a connection to the User Instance using SQL Server Management Studio or SQLCmd. You can only connect to a User Instance after it has been started by an external process, such as a client application. SQL management tools cannot start a User Instance.
Note
User Instances are a feature of SQL Server 2008 Express only.
Column |
Data type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
owning_principal_name |
nvarchar(256) |
The name of the user that this user instance was created for. |
owning_principal_sid |
nvarchar(256) |
SID (Security-Identifier) of the principal who owns this user instance. This matches Windows SID. |
owning_principal_sid_binary |
varbinary(85) |
Binary version of the SID for the user who owns the user Instance |
instance_name |
nvarchar(128) |
The name of this user instance. |
instance_pipe_name |
nvarchar(260) |
When a user instance is created, a named pipe is created for applications to connect to. This name can be used in a connect string to connect to this user instance. |
os_process_id |
Int |
The process number of the Windows process for this user instance. |
os_process_creation_date |
Datetime |
The date and time when this user instance process was last started. |
heart_beat |
nvarchar(5) |
Current state of this user instance; either ALIVE or DEAD. |
Permissions
Requires VIEW SERVER STATE permission on the server.
Remarks
For more information about dynamic management view, see Dynamic Management Views and Functions (Transact-SQL) in SQL Server 2008 Books Online.