This
first article in a series of two, discusses how to use the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 command line
utilities, and what are
they used for.
Just
to be clear before I start, these
utilities are primarily used for diagnostic, configuration and data migration
purposes, rather than for database server administration.
Please
find below all the 42 command line utilities available in an SQL Server
instance. Some of the tools described (for example bcp, distrib and osql)
have a complex syntax (huge set of options), therefore, a DBA needs permanent
access to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 e-documentation - Books Online, delivered
with your database server installation media.
Most of the utilities, discussed below, are installed into \Program
Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn, while the others are installed into
\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Binn and Program
Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Com.
Be aware that '\Program Files\Microsoft SQL
Server\80\Tools\Binn' directory is added to a system path, so utilities located
here can be run from a command prompt (without specifying a full path). As for
any other utilities (i.e. those not in the '\Program Files\Microsoft SQL
Server\80\Tools\Binn' directory) should be run from the command prompt in the
directory in which the utility is installed or the path should be explicitly
specified.
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