Special Administration Console (SAC) and SAC commands

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Special Administration Console (SAC) and SAC commands

You perform most remote-management and recovery tasks using an out-of-band management port with Special Administration Console (SAC). The server must be at least partially functioning in order to use SAC.

After Emergency Management Services is enabled, SAC is always running unless Emergency Management Services components are prevented from loading properly. If Emergency Management Services components are prevented from loading properly, the server starts !Special Administration Console (!SAC). In addition, a set of SAC commands is available for performing management tasks.

The following prompt appears when SAC is active:

SAC>

For more information, see Emergency Management Services components and !Special Administration Console (!SAC) and !SAC commands.

SAC commands

The following table lists SAC commands that are available for remote management tasks.

Command	Description
ch	Lists all channels.
cmd	Creates Windows command-prompt channels. To use a command-prompt channel, you must provide valid logon credentials. You must log on to each command-prompt instance.
crashdump	Manually generates a Stop error message and forces a memory dump file to be created.
D	Dumps the current kernel log.
F	Toggles the information output by the t-list command, which shows processes only, or shows processes and threads.
I	If no parameters are passed, this command lists Internet Protocol (IP) information. You can configure IP parameters to display or set the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway of a given network interface device by providing the network number, IP address, and subnet information. To do so, use the following format: <network#><IPaddress><subnet>
Id	Displays identification information about the server.
K<PID>	Ends the given process. PID is the process identification number you specify.
L<PID>	Lowers the priority of a process (and any associated child processes) to the lowest possible level.
lock	Restricts access to Emergency Management Services command-prompt channels. You must provide valid logon credentials to unlock a channel.
M<PID><MB-allow>	Limits the memory usage of a process (and any associated child processes) to a specified number of megabytes. MB is the number of megabytes you specify.
P	Causes t-list command output to pause after displaying one full screen of information.
R<PID>	Raises the priority of a process and any associated child processes up by one level.
restart	Restarts the computer.
S	If no parameters are passed, this command displays the current date using the 24-hour clock format. You can set the system time by providing the date and, optionally, the time in this format: mm/dd/yyyyhh:mm.
shutdown	Shuts down the computer. Do not use this command unless you can be physically present at the computer when you are ready to restart it.
T	Lists the processes and threads that are currently running.
? or help	Lists the available commands.

Channel-management commands

The following table lists the subset of SAC commands available for managing out-of-band port channels.

Command	Description
ch	Lists all channels.
ch -si <n>	Changes to the channel with the number, n, which you specify.
ch -sn <name>	Changes to the channel with the name you specify.
ch -ci <n>	Closes the channel with the number, n, which you specify.
ch -cn <name>	Closes the channel with the name you specify.
<Esc><Tab>	Enables you to change channels.
<Esc><Tab>0	Returns you to the SAC channel.
ch -?	Displays the channel-management commands Help.