SQL Server Startup Options

Startup options designate certain file locations needed during startup, and specify some server wide conditions. Most users do not need to specify startup options unless you are troubleshooting the Database Engine or you have an unusual problem and are directed to use a startup option by SQL Server Customer Support.

Note: Improper use of startup options can affect server performance and can prevent SQL Server from starting.

Default startup options

•       -d:  master_file_path, Is the fully qualified path for the master database file (typically, C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.n\MSSQL\Data\master.mdf). If you do not provide this option, the existing registry parameters are used.
•      -e: error_log_path, Is the fully qualified path for the error log file (typically, C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.n\MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG). If you do not provide this option, the existing registry parameters are used.
•      -l: master_log_path, Is the fully qualified path for the master database log file (typically C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.n\MSSQL\Data\mastlog.ldf). If you do not specify this option, the existing registry parameters are used.

Other startup options

•      -c: Shortens startup time when starting SQL Server from the command prompt. Typically, the SQL Server Database Engine starts as a service by calling the Service Control Manager. Because the SQL Server Database Engine does not start as a service when starting from the command prompt, use -c to skip this step.

•       -f: Starts an instance of SQL Server with minimal configuration. This is useful if the setting of a configuration value (for example, over-committing memory) has prevented the server from starting. Starting SQL Server in minimal configuration mode places SQL Server in single-user mode. For more information, see the description for -m that follows.

•       -g:  memory_to_reserve, Specifies an integer number of megabytes (MB) of memory that SQL Server will leave available for memory allocations within the SQL Server process, but outside the SQL Server memory pool. The memory outside of the memory pool is the area used by SQL Server for loading items, such as extended procedure .dll files, the OLE DB providers referenced by distributed queries, and automation objects referenced in Transact-SQL statements. The default is 256 MB. Use of this option might help tune memory allocation, but only when physical memory exceeds the configured limit set by the operating system on virtual memory available to applications. Use of this option might be appropriate in large memory configurations in which the memory usage requirements of SQL Server are atypical and the virtual address space of the SQL Server process is totally in use. Incorrect use of this option can lead to conditions under which an instance of SQL Server may not start or may encounter run-time errors.

•      Use the default for the -g parameter unless you see any of the following warnings in the SQL Server error log:

•      "Failed Virtual Allocate Bytes: FAIL_VIRTUAL_RESERVE <size>"

•      "Failed Virtual Allocate Bytes: FAIL_VIRTUAL_COMMIT <size>"

•      These messages might indicate that SQL Server is trying to free parts of the SQL Server memory pool in order to find space for items, such as extended stored procedure .dll files or automation objects. In this case, consider increasing the amount of memory reserved by the -g switch.

•       Using a value lower than the default will increase the amount of memory available to the memory pool managed by the SQL Server Memory Manager and thread stacks; this may, in turn, provide some performance benefit to memory-intensive workloads in systems that do not use many extended stored procedures, distributed queries, or automation objects.

•      -m: Starts an instance of SQL Server in single-user mode. When you start an instance of SQL Server in single-user mode, only a single user can connect, and the CHECKPOINT process is not started. CHECKPOINT guarantees that completed transactions are regularly written from the disk cache to the database device. (Typically, this option is used if you experience problems with system databases that should be repaired.) Enables the sp_configure allow updates option. By default, allow updates is disabled. Starting SQL Server in single-user mode enables any member of the computer's local Administrators group to connect to the instance of SQL Server as a member of the sysadmin fixed server role. For more information, see Connect to SQL Server When System Administrators Are Locked Out. For more information about single-user mode, see Start SQL Server in Single-User Mode.

•      -n: Does not use the Windows application log to record SQL Server events. If you start an instance of SQL Server with -n, we recommend that you also use the -e startup option. Otherwise, SQL Server events are not logged.

•       -s: Allows you to start a named instance of SQL Server. Without the -s parameter set, the default instance will try to start. You must switch to the appropriate BINN directory for the instance at a command prompt before starting sqlservr.exe. For example, if Instance1 were to use \mssql$Instance1 for its binaries, the user must be in the \mssql$Instance1\binn directory to start sqlservr.exe -s instance1.

•      -T trace#: Indicates that an instance of SQL Server should be started with a specified trace flag (trace#) in effect. Trace flags are used to start the server with nonstandard behavior. For more information, see Trace Flags (Transact-SQL).

•       When specifying a trace flag with the -T option, use an uppercase "T" to pass the trace flag number. A lowercase "t" is accepted by SQL Server, but this sets other internal trace flags that are required only by SQL Server support engineers. (Parameters specified in the Control Panel startup window are not read.)

•      -x: Disables the following monitoring features:

•       SQL Server performance monitor counters

•       Keeping CPU time and cache-hit ratio statistics

•       Collecting information for the DBCC SQLPERF command

•       Collecting information for some dynamic management views

•       Many extended-events event points

•       Caution note Caution

•        When you use the –x startup option, the information that is available for you to diagnose performance and functional problems with SQL Server is greatly reduced.

•       -E: Increases the number of extents that are allocated for each file in a filegroup. This option may be helpful for data warehouse applications that have a limited number of users running index or data scans. It should not be used in other applications because it might adversely affect performance. This option is not supported in 32-bit releases of SQL Server.

•      -mClient Application Name: Limits the connections to a specified client application. For example, -mSQLCMD limits connections to a single connection and that connection must identify itself as the SQLCMD client program. Use this option when you are starting SQL Server in single-user mode and an unknown client application is taking the only available connection. Use "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio - Query" to connect with the SSMS Query Editor. The SSMS Query Editor option cannot be configured by using SQL Server Configuration Manager because it includes the dash character which is rejected by the tool.

•       Client Application Name is case sensitive. Double quotes are required if the application name contains spaces or special characters.

•       Examples when starting from the command line:

•       C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlserver -s MSSQLSERVER -m"Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio - Query"

•       C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlserver -s MSSQLSERVER -mSQLCMD

•       Security Note: Do not use this option as a security feature. The client application provides the client application name, and can provide a false name as part of the connection string.

• -h:  parameter is not supported in SQL Server 2012. This parameter was used in earlier versions of 32-bit instances of SQL Server to reserve virtual memory address space for Hot Add memory metadata when AWE is enabled

      Some startup options, such as single-user mode and minimal configuration mode, are principally used during troubleshooting. Starting the server for troubleshooting with the –m or –f options is easiest at the command line, while manually starting sqlservr.exe.