SQL Server consists of a few different services, each of them with their own configuration tools, but the most searched-for is the database engine itself - the SQL Server Service.

SQL Server Service

• Configuring SQL Server Service Accounts - explains the accounts used by the service and the permissions that they use.
• SQL Server 2000 Service Options - server-level configuration options for memory, CPUs, service accounts, security modes and more that affect the service when it starts up.
• SQL Server Startup Options - discusses how to start the SQL Server Service from a command prompt to enable trace flags or specify a different location for the error logs.

Changes in SQL Server 2005 and 2008

SQL Server 2005 adds new configuration tools and options for the SQL Server Service:

• SQL Server 2005 Service Configuration - how to change startup parameters like affinity mask, the default trace, and remote access.
• SQL Server 2005 Configuration Tools - the Surface Area Configuration tool is new in SQL 2005, and it helps manage startup options.
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008, on the other hand, no longer uses the Surface Area Configuration tool. SQL Service options are managed with Policy-Based Management.

SQL Server Reporting Services

• Business Intelligence with SQL Server - SQL Server Reporting Services is a part of SQL Server's end-to-end BI stack that includes SQL Server Integration Server and SQL Server Analysis Server.
• Security with SQL Server Analysis Services - explains database and cube permissions.

SQLServerPedia Editors Suggest....

Here's a few more articles that may interest you if you're researching the SQL Server Service;

• Service Broker Options - SQL Server Service Broker is set up at the database level, not the server level, and we explain how.
• SQL Server High Availability Options - for mission critical applications, there's architecture configurations like clusters, log shipping and linked servers. We explain your options.
• SQL Server Service Error Messages - need to troubleshoot error messages when the service stops or when a cluster fails to start? Here's your answers.