some of the things you want are in global variables (@@servername, @@servicename, @@version). Others you'd have to use xp_regread to obtain. The IP you already know if you can connect...

what the nolock hint does is tell SQL server you will accept uncommitted data. If the application doing the select truly doesn't care whether the data is accurate AND using...

There is nothing inherently wrong with using SQL Server logins that way, for a smaller controlled group of users. You must manage all of the these users and their passwords...

I am not aware of any built in facility to make a phone call from SQL Server. However if I wanted to do it I'd probably write a .net assembly...

I am not aware of a way to do this other than creating a new table having the same structure as the old one. Specify the desired file groups you...

run configuration manager and disable the service.

Dumb me, you had already done that. If it was an option on installation try running the install again to remove that component...

Yes using SQL Server authentication. I assume the application can be configured in some way for a user and password to set up its connection strings.

Take the time to...

yes.

pre-configuring like that will reduce external fragmentation which occurs when other file-groups or applications are competing for disk space on the same physical drive.

This results in better performance on all...

How do you have the execution context of the xp_cmdshell set up? Are you using a proxy or is it running in the context of the SQLServer service user (generally...

I believe for your purposes here they are equivalent, however it is better to use xact_state() for reasons I won't elaborate on.

It doesn't matter which one or how many of...

No, that's appropriate. However I would include the rollback in the preceeding "if" block like this:

IF @@TRANCOUNT > 0

begin

-- error handling

ROLLBACK -- no rollback if @@trancount =...

it May be nice, but it would be even nicer if it was in a more concise and readable language like C#.

but I digress...

okay, for anyone interested the C# source is attached.

MTY-1082557 (12/14/2009)

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Ok.. Im doing some testing and I force the primary server to have an error so I can bring to live my StandBy database

Restore log [backup] FROM DISK 'c:\Logshipping\backup_20091214200600.trn'...