What's the best way to start and stop SQL Server from the command line?

Question

I need to start and stop SQL Server from the command line. I am willing to write a small C# program if necessary, but I suspect that there's something (PowerShell, maybe?) that currently exists that does this gracefully.

Thank you

Answer 1

net {start|stop} mssqlserver

Answer 2

net start/stop

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc736564.aspx

Answer 3

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187463.aspx

Answer 4

Or, in PowerShell, Stop-Service, Start-Service, or Restart-Service. Note that all of this has to be done on a per-instance basis, just as with the other suggestions here.