WMI Provider for Configuration Management Concepts
The WMI provider is a published layer that is used with the SQL Server Configuration Manager snap-in for Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and the Microsoft SQL Server Configuration Manager. It provides a unified way for interfacing with the API calls that manage the registry operations requested by SQL Server Configuration Manager and provides enhanced control and manipulation over the selected SQL Server services.
The SQL Server WMI Provider is a DLL and a MOF file, which are compiled automatically by SQL Server Setup.
The SQL Server WMI Provider contains a set of object classes used to control the SQL Server services using the following methods:
A script language such as VBScript, JScript, or Perl, in which Windows Query Language (WQL) can be embedded.
The ManagedComputer object in an SMO managed code program.
The SQL Server Configuration Manager or MMC with the SQL Server WMI provider snap-in.
The advantages of using a script language include the following:
A development environment is not required.
The files that support the script language are widely available.
The script can also work with other WMI Providers in addition to the SQL Server WMI Provider. A domain administrator can use a script to set up the services, network settings, and alias settings on multiple computers on a network.
This section deals with accessing the WMI Provider for Configuration Management from scripts in further detail.
The ManagedComputer object is a managed SMO object that provides access to the WMI Provider for Configuration Management. By using an SMO program, the ManagedComputer object can be used to view and modify SQL Server services, network settings, and alias settings. For more information, see Managing Services and Network Settings by Using WMI Provider.
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) provides an interface to manage SQL Server services, as opposed to a scripting language or managed code program. The SQL Server Management MMC snap-in can be used to stop and start services, and to change service accounts.
The SQL Server Configuration Manager can also be used to manage SQL Server services, client and server protocols, and server aliases