Configure Server Startup Options (SQL Server Configuration Manager)

  • Article

This topic describes how to to configure startup options that will be used every time the Database Engine starts in SQL Server 2012 by using SQL Server Configuration Manager. For a list of startup options, see Database Engine Service Startup Options.

Before You Begin

Limitations and Restrictions

SQL Server Configuration Manager writes startup parameters to the registry. They take effect upon the next startup of the Database Engine.

On a cluster, changes must be made on the active server when SQL Server is online, and will take effect when the Database Engine is restarted. The registry update of the startup options on the other node will occur upon the next failover.

Security

Permissions

Configuring server startup options is restricted to users who can change the related entries in the registry. This includes the following users.

  • Members of the local administrators group.

  • The domain account that is used by SQL Server, if the Database Engine is configured to run under a domain account.

Arrow icon used with Back to Top link[Top]

Using SQL Server Configuration Manager

To configure startup options

  1. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click SQL Server Services.

  2. In the right pane, right-click SQL Server (<instance_name>), and then click Properties.

  3. On the Startup Parameters tab, in the Specify a startup parameter box, type the parameter, and then click Add.

    For example, to start in single-user mode, type -m in the Specify a startup parameter box and then click Add. (When you restart SQL Server in single-user mode, stop the SQL Server Agent. Otherwise, SQL Server Agent might connect first and prevent you from connecting as a second user.)

  4. Click OK.

  5. Restart the Database Engine.

    Warning

    After you are finished using single-user mode, in the Startup Parameters box, select the -m parameter in the Existing Parameters box, and then click Remove. Restart the Database Engine to restore SQL Server to the typical multi-user mode.

To access SQL Server Configuration Manager Using Windows 8

Because SQL Server Configuration Manager is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console program and not a stand-alone program, SQL Server Configuration Manager not does not appear as an application when running Windows 8. To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the Search charm, under Apps, type SQLServerManager11.msc (for SQL Server 2012) or SQLServerManager10.msc for (SQL Server 2008), and then press Enter.

See Also

Concepts

Start SQL Server in Single-User Mode

Connect to SQL Server When System Administrators Are Locked Out

Start, Stop, or Pause the SQL Server Agent Service