SQL Server Configuration Manager manages services that are related to SQL Server 2005. Although many of these tasks can be accomplished using the Microsoft Windows Services dialog, is important to note that SQL Server Configuration Manager performs additional operations on the services it manages, such as applying the correct permissions when the service account is changed. Using the normal Windows Services dialog to configure any of the SQL Server 2005 services may cause the service to malfunction.

Use SQL Server Configuration Manager for the following tasks for services:

• Start, stop, and pause services
  
• Configure services to start automatically or manually, disable the services, or change other service settings
  
• Change the passwords for the accounts used by the SQL Server services
  
• Start SQL Server using trace flags (command line parameters)
  
• View the properties of services
  

Use SQL Server Configuration Manager for the following tasks related to the SQL Server services on this computer:

• Enable or disable a SQL Server network protocol
  
• Configure a SQL Server network protocol
  

Note:
For a short tutorial about how to configure protocols and connect to the Database Engine, see "Getting Started with the Database Engine" in SQL Server Books Online.

SQL Server 2005 clients connect to SQL Server using the SQL Native Client network library. Use SQL Server Configuration Manager for the following tasks related to client applications on this computer:

• For SQL Server 2005 client applications on this computer, specify the protocol order, when connecting to SQL Servers.
  
• Configure client connection protocols.
  
• For SQL Server 2005 client applications, create aliases for SQL Servers, so that clients can connect using a custom connection string.
  

For more information on each of these tasks, see F1 help for each task.

Reference

Concepts