console Command-line Utility

Displays backup and restore messages when dumping or loading to or from diskette dump devices. The console command-line utility is used by the person responsible for dumping and loading a database.

Syntax

console [/S servername] [/P pipename]

where

/S servername
Specifies which SQL Server to connect to. The servername is the name of the server computer on the network. This option is required when you are executing console from a remote computer on the network.
/P pipename
Specifies the pipe that the server was started with.

Remarks

The console program must be running before a DUMP or LOAD statement can proceed for diskette dump devices.

The console program prompts the operator for information related to mounting and unmounting diskettes. Since the console workstation (which can be any screen group) displays prompts and messages for the operator, run it in a window on the same Windows NT - based workstation that is running SQL Server. Most console messages are self-explanatory. To stop a dump or load to a diskette, press N in response to any prompt to mount a new diskette.

If two diskettes (that is, two dumps/loads) are being used at once, only one console is needed. The program prints messages one at a time, waiting for a response before displaying the next prompt. For this reason, the messages include the name of the physical drive to which they pertain.

Make sure that the diskette you are using is formatted and not write-protected.

The console utility uses named pipes. If you want to use console on an alternate pipe, you must set up the connection using the SQL Client Configuration Utility.

For details, see the Microsoft SQL Server Administrator's Companion.

Note If the console utility has been started and appears to be unusable, wait for 1 minute and try to use it again. (SQL Server may be in the process of fixing a broken console connection).