File Locations for Multiple Instances of SQL Server
Each named instance of Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 has a specific location for its program files and another for its data files that is different from that of the default instance of SQL Server.
Note A named instance is not necessarily the same as a multiple instance. You can have a single named instance or you can have multiple named instances. For more information, see Multiple Instances of SQL Server.
For each named instance of SQL Server that you install, the default directories are:
- \Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$InstanceName\Binn for executable files.
- \Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$InstanceName\Data for data files.
Shared tools for all instances, both default and named instances, are located in the \Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools directory. You can specify file paths other than the default locations for program and data file for multiple instances.
The following illustration shows the simplest case of multiple instances of Microsoft SQL Server 2000: the default instance and one named instance, Instance1. A named instance has its own full set of data files and executable files. Common files used by both the default instance and any named instances are installed in the folder \Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80.
Note If Microsoft SQL Server version 7.0 is used as the default installation alongside a named instance of SQL Server 2000, program and data files are located at C:\Mssql7, the default location for SQL Server 7.0 files.
Finding Install Locations
If you are uncertain about instance paths, query the registry to get the installation path of a particular instance. Run the following at the command prompt, inserting the appropriate instance name:
C:\> REG QUERY HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\InstanceName\MSSQLServer\Setup\SQLPath
Note The REG QUERY tool is available in the Microsoft Windows® 2000 Resource Kit.