How to: Pause and Resume an Instance of SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager)

Microsoft SQL Server can be paused and resumed from SQL Server Configuration Manager.

To pause and resume the default instance of SQL Server

  1. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, expand Services, and then click SQL Server.

  3. In the details pane, right-click SQL Server (MSSQLServer), and then click Pause.

    A pair of vertical blue bars on the icon next to the server name and on the toolbar indicates that the server started successfully.

  4. To resume the server, right-click SQL Server (MSSQLServer), and then click Resume.

    A green arrow on the icon next to the server name and on the toolbar indicates that the server started successfully.

  5. Click OK to close SQL Server Configuration Manager.

To pause and resume a named instance of SQL Server

  1. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, expand Services, and then click SQL Server.

  3. In the details pane, right-click the named instance of SQL Server, and then click Pause.

    A pair of vertical blue bars on the icon next to the server name and on the toolbar indicates that the server started successfully.

  4. To resume the server, right-click the named instance of SQL Server, and then click Resume.

    A green arrow on the icon next to the server name and on the toolbar indicates that the server resumed successfully.

  5. Click OK to close SQL Server Configuration Manager.