View the Windows Application Log (Windows)

When SQL Server is configured to use the Windows application log, each SQL Server session writes new events to that log. Unlike the SQL Server error log, a new application log is not created each time you start an instance of SQL Server.

To view the Windows application log

1. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Event Viewer.

2. In Event Viewer, click Application.

3. SQL Server events are identified by the entry MSSQLSERVER (named instances are identified with MSSQL$<instance_name>) in the Source column. SQL Server Agent events are identified by the entry SQLSERVERAGENT (for named instances of SQL Server, SQL Server Agent events are identified with SQLAgent$<instance_name>). Microsoft Search service events are identified by the entry Microsoft Search.

4. To view the log of a different computer, right-click Event Viewer, click Connect to another computer, and complete the Select Computerdialog box.

5. Optionally, to display only SQL Server events, on the View menu click Filter, and in the Event source list, select MSSQLSERVER. To view only SQL Server Agent events, instead select SQLSERVERAGENT in the Event source list.

6. To view more information about an event, double-click the event.

See Also

Tasks

View the SQL Server Error Log (SQL Server Management Studio)