Stop, Start, Pause and Resume a SQL Server Instance using net Commands

A user asked me recently if it was possible to start and stop a SQL Server Service using command line. The answer is YES and it is quite easy to do so as shown below:

Open your windows command prompt and type the following command to Stop, Start, Pause and Continue a SQL Server Instance.

Note: If you are running this on Vista or higher OS, you may have to run the command prompt as administrator. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Right click Command Prompt > Run as Administrator

To Stop, Start, Pause and Resume a SQL Server Default Instance

Stop – net stop MSSQLSERVER

Start – net start MSSQLSERVER

Pause – net pause MSSQLSERVER

Continue – net continue MSSQLSERVER

To Stop, Start, Pause and Resume a SQL Server Named Instance

Note: I have a named instance called SUPROTIM2 on my machine.

Stop – net stop “SQL SERVER SUPROTIM2”

Start – net start “SQL SERVER SUPROTIM2”

Pause – net pause “SQL SERVER SUPROTIM2”

Continue – net continue “SQL SERVER SUPROTIM2”

About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

Get in touch with him on Twitter @suprotimagarwal, LinkedIn or befriend him on Facebook