System settings changing on it's own

[pvmurphy]

Is it possible for SQL Server to change system settings on it own? We have had a couple of strange occurrences where settings have been changed, once how memory is allocated (dynamic vs fixed) and the other one was maximum connections was switched to 1 and of course SQL basically brought itself down. Our security is really non- existent (I think the street vendors have our passwords!) so I am very nervous someone could be doing this, even accidentally. I know changing the sa password is the answer, but this will have to be done very slowly over a period of time.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[JayKusch]

I do not believe SQL Server is able to change its settings automatically or we will all be in trouble - LOL. I beleive your notion of someone changing the settings, intentionally or non-intentionally, is probably correct.

Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[pvmurphy]

Going thought BOL, I noticed this under Setting Configuration Options: [Self-configuring options are those that SQL Server adjusts according to the needs of the system. In most cases, this eliminates the need for setting the values manually. Examples include the min server memory and max server memory options, and the user connections option].
Question, if SQL Server deems it necessary to change your server memory or user connections, they should give a reason somewhere in the logs, not just a message that it was changed?

 

[JayKusch]

I am sorry for that! I was assuming that you were talking about settings that you had changed/over-ridden. If you leave the SQL Server settings as they are installed out of the box, SQL Server will "Dynamically" adjust several of the settings as it sees fit.

If you change settings, as in changing the memory management to be a fixed amount OR by setting a range of usable memory SQL Server can dynamically allocate, these adjustments will not be changed by SQL Server.

Same w/ User connections. If you change the setting using sp_configure, SQL Server should not be able to change this.

Thanks

J. Kusch