Is Windows Admin automatically becomes SQL sysadmin?

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Is Windows Admin automatically becomes SQL sysadmin?

JMI

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Points: 11831
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August 1, 2008 at 1:29 pm

#191879

Looks like if you're added to the Administrators Group
on Windows 2000 server where SQL Server 2005 runs it doesn't mean
you're automatically granted the same kind of permissions on SQL Server 2005.
But you are granted some permissions because you can connect to SQL Server
2005 through Management Studio and do some SELECTS.
Anyway,
Is there a way to propagate your Windows permissions to SQL Server 2005
or you always have to add Windows account manually in SQL Server?

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

riga1966 (8/1/2008)
Looks like if you're added to the Administrators Group
on Windows 2000 server where SQL Server 2005 runs it doesn't mean
you're automatically granted the same kind of permissions on SQL Server 2005.

It depends on what kind of permissions are granted to the Builtin\Administrators login.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
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K. Brian Kelley SSC Guru Points: 114642 More actions · Answer 2

On Windows 2000/2003, SQL Server 2000 and 2005 installs will add the BUILTIN\Administrators group to SQL Server as a sysadmin during the SQL Server installation. You do not have to leave it this way. You can remove BUILTIN\Administrators or reduce its privileges. However, before doing so make sure you've added your DBA group and granted it sysadmin rights.

As far as automatically adding user/groups, you can do so during a script you run after the SQL Server is installed. This is probably the best way to go and ensures consistency across platforms.

K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley

JMI SSChampion Points: 11831 More actions · Answer 3

So if BUILTIN\Administrators does not exist in SQL Server 2005

(they probably removed it)

it means your Windows Admin is not SQL sysadmin anymore?

But if you are Administrator on Windows box and it's a default SQL install and you didn't touch the Logins after installation you should automatically become SQL sysadmin?

Am I right?

K. Brian Kelley SSC Guru Points: 114642 More actions · Answer 4

For Windows 2000 and 2003, yes.

K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley