You are the administrator of a SQL Server 2000 computer configured for C2 auditing. Audit logs are written to the C:\\MSSQL\\Audit folder. After several days, the MSSQLServer service suddenly stops and cannot be restarted. You need to restart the MSSQLServer service and restore normal operation. What should you do first?

Introduction / Context:
SQL Server 2000 supports C2 level auditing, which is a security standard requiring strict logging of various events. When C2 auditing is enabled, SQL Server records detailed audit information into log files. However, if these audit logs are not managed properly and the system runs out of space or reaches audit limits, SQL Server can shut down to preserve the integrity of auditing. This question asks how to bring SQL Server back online when C2 auditing has filled the audit directory.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• SQL Server 2000 is configured for C2 security auditing.
• Audit logs are stored in C:\\MSSQL\\Audit.
• The server functions normally for some time, then the MSSQLServer service stops unexpectedly.
• Attempts to restart the MSSQLServer service fail.
• The goal is to restart MSSQLServer and restore database services.

Concept / Approach:
When C2 auditing is enabled and SQL Server cannot continue writing to the audit logs, it is required by the standard to shut down. This can happen if the audit folder is full or if the maximum number of audit files is reached. To allow SQL Server to start again, you must clear enough space in the audit directory by moving or deleting old audit log files. Once there is space, SQL Server can restart and resume writing new audit entries.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that C2 auditing requires SQL Server to stop if audit logging cannot continue.Step 2: Navigate to the C:\\MSSQL\\Audit folder and check for a large number of audit files consuming disk space.Step 3: Safely copy audit files to another location if you need to preserve them for compliance, or delete old files if appropriate.Step 4: Confirm that sufficient free space exists in the audit folder path.Step 5: Attempt to restart the MSSQLServer service; it should start successfully now that audit logging can resume.
Verification / Alternative check:
After restarting the MSSQLServer service, monitor the SQL Server error logs and Windows event logs to confirm that the service is running normally and that C2 auditing is functioning again. You can also verify that new audit files are being created in the C:\\MSSQL\\Audit folder, showing that auditing continues as required. If you still encounter errors, recheck folder permissions and free space.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, starting SQL Server with the -m single user mode option, does not address the root cause of full or blocked audit logs and the service will likely shut down again. Option B, using the -s option, relates to specifying a named instance of SQL Server and does not solve the audit problem. Option C disables SQLServerAgent, which is unrelated to C2 auditing and will not allow MSSQLServer to start if the audit folder is still full. Only option D directly addresses the need to clear audit logs so that C2 auditing can resume and the service can start.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus on restart switches or service dependencies without checking storage and audit settings. When C2 auditing is enabled, administrators must implement a log management process so that audit files are rotated, archived, or purged before they consume all available disk space. Forgetting this requirement can lead to unexpected service outages. Understanding how C2 auditing interacts with disk availability is essential for stable operation.

Final Answer:
You should delete or move the audit logs from C:\\MSSQL\\Audit to free space and then restart the MSSQLServer service.