What is SQL Server Configuration Manager?

SQL Server Configuration Manager is a tool that provides for managing the services associated with SQL Server, configuring the network protocols used by SQL Server, and for managing 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 SQLServerManager.msc file in the Windows System32 folder to open SQL Server Configuration Manager. The SQL Server Configuration Manager combines the functionality of the following SQL Server 2000 tools: Server Network Utility, Client Network Utility, and Service 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.

Important: 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.

Managing Server and Client Network Protocols

SQL Server Configuration Manager p[rovides for configuring server and client network protocols, and connectivity options. After the correct protocols are enabled using the Surface Area Configuration tool, 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.

SQL Server Configuration Manager provides for managing server and client network protocols, including the ability to force protocol encryption, view alias properties, or enable/disable a protocol.

SQL Server Configuration Manager provides for creating or removing an alias, changing the order in which protocols are used, or viewing 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.

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