Restart Services instead of Rebooting the Windows Server 2003

Is your reflex to restart services or reboot the server?

Best Practice (Litmus Test)

Professionals: Prefer to restart faulty services

Amateurs:  Always reboot the server - even if there is no need

Restart services - avoid Reboots

The good news is that Microsoft have reduced the number of actions that require a reboot from over 150 in NT 4.0 to just 7 in Windows 2003.  The bad news is that rebooting the server is no longer as effective in curing problems as it was in NT.  On occasions where rebooting solves a problem, restarting the individual service would work just as well.  Think how much downtime you will save. 

Restart Services (Not Server)

Restarting services is particularly useful when troubleshooting Exchange 2003 or SQL problems.  Rebooting the machine would achieve the same result but would take an age and other services would not be available until the restart is complete.  Stopping and restarting the services is more efficient and also teaches you the dependencies of service.  For example, the Exchange Information Store is dependent on the System Attendant.

Where do you find the settings?  Administrative tools, Services here is a thumbnail:

Or try a flashy VBScript to restart services

Configure services to restart automatically on failure.

7 Main causes of a reboot in Windows 2000/3

1. Installing Active Directory (Run DCPROMO)

2. Changing the DNS IP address or domain suffix

3. Converting from Basic to Dynamic disk

4. Renaming your Machine

5. Install RIS

6. Add or Remove COM Ports

7. Modifying the Schema

Minor causes of a reboot

1. Altering the ISA configuration (why are you still using ISA stuff?)

2. Changing the System Locale (Should have done in during install)

3. Changing the System Font (Why worry on a server?)

4. Removing the GSNW (Just leave it?)

Another of Guy's Litmus Tests - Performance Monitoring

Professionals install ipMonitor
Consequently they can see instantly which servers are short of resources, and which are running smoothly.  

Amateurs
Keep their fingers crossed that the servers have enough memory and disk space.

Free Download of SolarWinds ipMonitor

Train Signal has just released their New Windows Server 2008 Training Course.  As an MCT trainer, I am a huge advocate of Train Signal’s products.  What impresses is me is that they demonstrate everything that they teach and they stay away from traditional 'lecture-style' training.  If you are looking for a complete DETAILED coverage of Windows Server 2008, then I highly recommend that you give this course a try.  I have reviewed their 6 hours plus of videos myself, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Watch a Windows Server 2008 Training Video Demo.

Sign up to my new Ezine and get a free Best Practice ebook. 

 *