If the event logs have nothing and the SQL Server errorlog does not have a "sghutdown" line and the cluster.log file looks OK (be wary the cluster.log file is only...

It does sound like a type of network issue. You should ping the server short name and the server long namr (FQDN). Based on the results your network folks can...

Does the SQL Server errorlog show a normal shutdown request or not ?

Have you examined the "cluster.log" file ?

I could be wrong on the second half of the answer ... maybe someone else can confirm:

SQL Server is SMP aware - i.e uses multiple processors

SQL RSS is not SMOP...

Let me begin with a quote - "Locks only keep honest people out".

Under normal circumstances I would use an AD group for the SQL Server Adminstrators. But in a "super-paranoid"...

Fatastic script Lowell ...I had the need to write one and 'viola' ... yours was there ... thanks !!!

There are Evaluation copies and the Developer Edition. Again, google is your friend !

Integrated Security is the way to go. Your 'seniors' are slightly off base (partially incorrect in their assumptions) about the way things work. Yes they are somewhat correct, if you...

"tame of monkeys" ???

http://www.dict.org/bin/Dict

I disagree your statement about not/never deleting the Builtin\Administrators. You can do it without ill affects if youy do your homework. Deleteing Builtin\Administrators (or at a minimum revoke login) does...

By 'stand alone' I assume tat you mean 'workgrpoups'. If this is the case then you need to put things in a domain.

Where are the input files ? On the server or a mapped drive ? If they are on a mapped drive then network latency may be hindering you a bit....

Industry is healthcare

SQL Server

    21+ SQL Servers

    480+ databases

    50+ applications

Oracle

    5 Servers

    5 applications

UDB2

    4 Servers

    2 applications

Number of DBAs = 1

Here's doing it the MS way:

1) Provide 24x7 performances monitoring of SQL Server. 

2) Provide real time monitoring and alerts

5) Store historical performance data.

6) Provide performance trend reports

 Items 1,2,5...

No 'raj' ... the .bat or .cmd only changes the address space the command file executes in. .bat is shared 16 bit space and .cmd is protected 32 bit space.