Microsoft® SQL Server™ includes many graphical tools that you can use to simplify administrative tasks.
The tools shipped with SQL Server are:
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is the user interface and framework for Microsoft BackOffice® server management. This shared console provides a convenient and consistent environment for SQL Server and other snap-in administrative tools. The console for SQL Server is SQL Server Enterprise Manager. The MMC point-and-click user interface is similar to Windows Explorer.
After you install SQL Server, you can start using MMC immediately. When you start SQL Server Enterprise Manager, it opens within the MMC.
Note The local SQL Server installation is detected automatically and listed in MMC. If the local server is not detected, or to administer remote servers, you can register servers manually. For more information about registering servers, see Registering Servers.
Working with the Console Tree and Details Pane
A vertical line divides the console tree and the details pane. The console tree lists items and categories. For example, in the context of SQL Server Enterprise Manager, the console tree lists registered servers. When you select a server or an item beneath a server in the console tree, the details pane provides more details about the selection.
For example, to work with a SQL Server database, expand the SQL Server installation, and then expand the Databases folder to see the databases listed in the console tree. Alternatively, you can expand the SQL Server installation, and then click the Databases folder to see all available databases in the details pane.
The Properties command displays a property dialog box for viewing and modifying the selected object. For example, if you right-click the MYSQLSERVER server and click Properties, the MYSQLSERVER Properties dialog box appears. Here you can view and set SQL Server server options, configuration values, and attributes.
Working with the Command Bar
The command bar is above the console tree and details pane. It contains the Action, View, and Tools menus, and a group of command bar buttons.
The Action menu provides the same choices provided by right-clicking an object. You can view and edit properties, delete or create a new object, and so on, for the selected object. The View menu modifies the view of the details pane. For example, to get more details about the objects in the details pane, click View, and then click Detail.
When an object is selected in either the console tree or details pane, the appropriate menus and command bar buttons become enabled. These are the sample menus and buttons available on the command bar.
| Menu or button | Description |
|---|---|
| Tools menu | Lists external tools and SQL Server management tasks and tools. SQL Server tools include SQL Server Query Analyzer, SQL Server Profiler, and replication tasks. External tools such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, or a customer application become available at the bottom of the Tools menu after you click External Tools and add them. |
| Back button | Returns to the previous details pane and the corresponding item in the console tree. |
| Forward button | Moves to the next details pane (provided you have viewed it and then moved back just previously) and the corresponding item in the console tree. |
| Copy button | Copies the selected object. |
| Paste button | Pastes an object from the memory cache. |
| Delete button | Deletes the selected object. |
| Properties button | Views or sets properties. |
| Up One Level button | Moves the selection to an object up one level of the list in the console tree. |
| Show/Hide Console Tree button | Hides a visible console tree or shows a hidden console tree. |
| Run a Wizard button | Brings up a list of wizards you can run. |
The SQL Server Client Network Utility is used for managing the client configuration for DB-Library, Net-Libraries, and custom-defined network connections.
Configuring Client Network Connections
SQL Server Enterprise Manager allows for easy enterprise-wide configuration and management of SQL Server and SQL Server objects. SQL Server Enterprise Manager provides a powerful scheduling engine, administrator alert capability, and a built-in replication management interface. You can also use SQL Server Enterprise Manager to:
By default, SQL Server Enterprise Manager is installed by SQL Server Setup as part of the server software on computers running Microsoft Windows NT®, and as part of the client software on computers running Windows NT and Microsoft Windows® 95/98. Because SQL Server Enterprise Manager is a 32-bit application, it cannot be installed on computers running 16-bit operating systems.
If your server uses a network protocol on which SQL Server is not listening, and the server Net-Library for that protocol is not activated to listen for SQL Server clients, you must use the SQL Server Network Utility.
SQL Server Performance Monitor integrates Windows NT Performance Monitor with SQL Server, providing up-to-the-minute activity and performance statistics as well as a means to diagnose system problems. SQL Server Performance Monitor provides tracking for all aspects of a SQL Server system, and can indicate ways to increase or improve performance.
Configuring SQL Server After Upgrading
SQL Server Profiler captures a continuous record of server activity in real-time. SQL Server Profiler monitors events produced through SQL Server, filters events based on user-specified criteria, and directs the trace output to the screen, a file, or a table. SQL Server Profiler allows you to replay previously captured traces.
Monitoring with SQL Server Profiler
SQL Server Query Analyzer is a graphical query tool that provides a way to analyze the plan of a query, execute multiple queries simultaneously, view data, and recommend indexes. SQL Server Query Analyzer provides the SHOWPLAN option, which is used to report data retrieval methods chosen by the SQL Server query optimizer.
SQL Server Service Manager is used for starting, stopping, and pausing SQL Server (MSSQLServer service), SQL Server Agent, and Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC). SQL Server Service Manager is now a taskbar application. SQL Server Manager can also be used to start and stop the Microsoft Search service (MSSearch), which provides full-text indexing and querying capability to SQL Server.
For shortcuts to SQL Server Service Manager tasks, right-click the SQL Server Service Manager stoplight in the taskbar, and then click a command. With SQL Server Service Manager, you can:
| Stopping SQL Server | Starting SQL Server |
| Pausing and Resuming SQL Server |
SQL Server Setup is used to install the server. You can use the Setup program to select which components to install, configure network protocols, and change the character set, sort order, or Unicode collation.
The SQL Server Upgrade Wizard is used to upgrade SQL Server version 6.x data to SQL Server 7.0. You can use the SQL Server Upgrade Wizard to upgrade databases, replication settings, automated tasks, and most configuration options.
The SQL Server Upgrade Wizard is not supported on the Windows 95/98 platform.
Upgrading from an Earlier Version of SQL Server