| title | Sqlservr Application | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| description | The sqlservr application starts, stops, pauses, and continues an instance of SQL Server from a command prompt. | |||||||||||
| author | rwestMSFT | |||||||||||
| ms.author | randolphwest | |||||||||||
| ms.date | 09/07/2025 | |||||||||||
| ms.service | sql | |||||||||||
| ms.subservice | tools-other | |||||||||||
| ms.topic | conceptual | |||||||||||
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[!INCLUDE sqlserver]
The sqlservr application starts, stops, pauses, and continues an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] from a command prompt. Use this procedure to start [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] only for troubleshooting purposes.
sqlservr [ -s instance_name ] [ -c ] [ -d master_path ] [ -f ]
[ -e error_log_path ] [ -l master_log_path ] [ -m ]
[ -n ] [ -T trace# ] [ -v ] [ -x ]Specifies the instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] to connect to. If no named instance is specified, sqlservr starts the default instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion].
Important
When starting an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion], you must use the sqlservr application in the appropriate directory for that instance. For the default instance, run sqlservr from the \MSSQL\Binn directory. For a named instance, run sqlservr from the \MSSQL$instance_name\Binn directory.
Indicates that an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] is started independently of the Windows Service Control Manager. This option is used when starting [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] from a command prompt, to shorten the amount of time it takes for [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] to start.
Note
When you use this option, you can't stop [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] by using [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Service Manager or the net stop command, and if you sign out of the computer, [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] is stopped.
Indicates the fully qualified path for the master database file. There are no spaces between -d and master_path. If you don't provide this option, the existing registry parameters are used.
Starts an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] with minimal configuration. This option is useful if the setting of a configuration value (for example, over-committing memory) prevents the server from starting.
Indicates the fully qualified path for the error log file. If not specified, the default location is *\<Drive>*:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Log\Errorlog for the default instance and *\<Drive>*:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$*instance_name*\Log\Errorlog for a named instance. There are no spaces between -e and error_log_path.
Indicates the fully qualified path for the master database transaction log file. There are no spaces between -l and master_log_path.
Indicates to start an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] in single-user mode. Only a single user can connect when [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] is started in single-user mode. The CHECKPOINT mechanism, which guarantees that completed transactions are regularly written from the disk cache to the database device, isn't started. (Typically, this option is used if you experience problems with system databases that require repair.) Enables the sp_configure allow updates option. By default, allow updates is disabled.
Allows you to start a named instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. Without the -s parameter set, the default instance attempts to start. You must switch to the appropriate binn directory for the instance at a command prompt before starting sqlservr.exe. For example, if Instance1 were to use \mssql$Instance1 for its binaries, the user must be in the \mssql$Instance1\binn directory to start sqlservr.exe -s instance1. If you start an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] with the -n option, it's advisable to use the -e option too, or [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] events aren't logged.
Indicates that an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] should be started with a specified trace flag (trace#) in effect. Trace flags are used to start the server with nonstandard behavior. For more information, see Set trace flags with DBCC TRACEON.
Important
When specifying a trace flag, use -T to pass the trace flag number. A lowercase t (-t) is accepted by [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]; however, -t sets other internal trace flags required by [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] support engineers.
Displays the server version number.
Disables the keeping of CPU time and cache-hit ratio statistics. Allows maximum performance.
You should use the methods described in Database Engine Service startup options instead of using the sqlservr.exe program to start [!INCLUDE msCoName] [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. In most cases, the sqlservr.exe program is only used for advanced troubleshooting or major maintenance. When [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] is started from the command prompt with sqlservr.exe, [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] doesn't start as a service, so you can't stop [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] using net commands. Users can connect to [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion], but [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] tools show the status of the service, so [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Configuration Manager correctly indicates that the service is stopped. [!INCLUDE ssManStudioFull] can connect to the server, but it also indicates that the service is stopped.
The following parameters are obsolete and not supported in [!INCLUDE sssql19-md].
| Parameter | More information |
|---|---|
-h |
In earlier versions of 32-bit instances of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] to reserve virtual memory address space for Hot Add memory metadata when AWE is enabled. Supported through [!INCLUDE sssql14]. For more information, see Discontinued Database Engine functionality in SQL Server. |
-g |
memory_to_reserve Applies to earlier versions of 32-bit instances of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. Supported through [!INCLUDE sssql14]. Specifies an integer number of megabytes (MB) of memory that [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] leaves available for memory allocations within the [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] process, but outside the [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] memory pool. For more information, see the SQL Server 2014 documentation on Server Memory Configuration Options. |