Enable 'xp_cmdshell' SQL Server

Question

I want to execute EXEC master..xp_cmdshell @bcpquery

But I am getting the following error:

SQL Server blocked access to procedure 'sys.xp_cmdshell' of component 'xp_cmdshell' because this component is turned off as part of the security configuration for this server. A system administrator can enable the use of 'xp_cmdshell' by using sp_configure. For more information about enabling 'xp_cmdshell', see "Surface Area Configuration" in SQL Server Books Online.

Is there any way to activate this, or execute something before enabling the feature?

How to solve it?

Answer 1

You need to enable it. Check out the Permission section of the xp_cmdshell MSDN docs:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190693.aspx:

-- To allow advanced options to be changed.
EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1
GO
-- To update the currently configured value for advanced options.
RECONFIGURE
GO
-- To enable the feature.
EXEC sp_configure 'xp_cmdshell', 1
GO
-- To update the currently configured value for this feature.
RECONFIGURE
GO