Configuring Servers

Because the SQL Server setup program provides intelligent defaults for SQL Server, you are able to run SQL Server immediately after installing it. However, there are a number of configuration tasks that can be performed after installation to fine-tune SQL Server for your particular environment. You can register the server with SQL Enterprise Manager, change the SA password, set the configuration options, set the server options, add support for additional network protocols, add support for a language, set the Windows NT options for the server, add Registry keys, and more.

In particular, after installing a server you will usually¾at a minimum¾perform these tasks:

• Register the server with SQL Enterprise Manager (as described in Registering a Server with SQL Enterprise Manager, later in this chapter.)
• Configure the SQL Server memory option (usually, the most important configuration option you will set, described in Setting the Memory Option, later in this chapter.)

Depending on the requirements of your installation, there are a number of other configuration tasks you can perform for a new server. You may also find it necessary to alter configuration settings for an existing server. This chapter explains how.

For more information about configuring servers, choose one of the following topics:

Registering a Server with SQL Enterprise Manager

Assigning an SA Password

Setting Configuration Options

Setting Server Options

Changing Network Support

Viewing Server Attributes

Adding a Language

Setting Windows NT Options on the Server

Rebuilding the Master Database

Adding Registry Keys

Assigning a Service Account to SQL Server or SQL Executive

Note that other parts of this documentation cover additional configuration tasks you could perform for a newly installed server. For example:

• Setting up login security and adding users are documented in Part 4, Security.
• Scheduling the automatic initiation of tasks, managing alerts, and using SQLMail (including information about setting up a SQLMail post office) are documented in Part 7, Other Operations.
• Setting up and managing replication is documented in Part 6, Replication.