Configuring Instances of Notification Services

Notification Services applications are hosted by instances of Notification Services. Each instance allows its applications to share subscribers and delivery mechanisms and to be administered as a group.

To create an instance of Notification Services, you must first configure the instance using either an XML instance configuration file (ICF) or programmatically using Notification Services Management Objects (NMO).

When you have finished configuring the instance, you can then create the instance using the instance configuration. Notification Services uses the instance configuration to create the instance database, store the metadata about the instance in that database, and then create the applications hosted by the instance.

Whether you configure Notification Services with an ICF or with NMO, you provide the following information:

  • A name for the instance.
  • The SQL Server instance name for the Database Engine that hosts the instance and application databases.
  • An optional definition of the instance database.
  • A list of applications hosted by the instance.
  • Information about custom delivery protocols used by the instance.
  • Information about all delivery channels used by the instance.
  • An encryption setting.
  • Instance history and version information (optional).

In This Section

Topic Description

Specifying the Instance Name

Describes how to define the instance name and how Notification Services uses the instance name.

Specifying the Database System Name

Describes how to specify which instance of SQL Server hosts the databases for the instance of Notification Services.

Defining the Instance Database

Describes how to configure the instance database.

Associating Applications with an Instance

Describes how to describe the applications hosted by the instance.

Defining Custom Delivery Protocols

Describes how to define custom protocols used by delivery channels.

Defining Delivery Channels

Describes how to define one or more delivery channels for the instance.

Configuring Argument Encryption

Describes how to encrypt event provider arguments and delivery channel arguments that are stored in databases.

Specifying the Instance Version and History

Describes how to define the instance version and ICF history.

Using Parameters in an Instance Configuration File

Describes how to specify values for ICF parameters and how you can pass values to application definition files (ADFs).

See Also

Reference

Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Nmo

Other Resources

Instance Configuration File Reference
Instance Configuration File Templates
Application Definition File Reference
Defining Notification Services Applications
Deploying Notification Services

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance