Get-DbaUptime

Synopsis

Retrieves uptime information for SQL Server instances and their hosting Windows servers

Description

This function determines SQL Server uptime by checking the tempdb creation date and calculates Windows server uptime using CIM/WMI calls to get the last boot time. Essential for monitoring system stability, troubleshooting unexpected restarts, and generating compliance reports that require uptime documentation. Returns both raw TimeSpan objects for calculations and formatted strings for reporting, covering both the SQL Server service and the underlying Windows host.

Syntax

Get-DbaUptime
    [-SqlInstance] <DbaInstanceParameter[]>
    [[-SqlCredential] <PSCredential>]
    [[-Credential] <PSCredential>]
    [-EnableException]
    [<CommonParameters>]

Examples

Example: 1

PS C:\> Get-DbaUptime -SqlInstance SqlBox1\Instance2

Returns an object with SQL Server start time, uptime as TimeSpan object, uptime as a string, and Windows host boot time, host uptime as TimeSpan objects and host uptime as a string for the sqlexpress
instance on winserver

Example: 2

PS C:\> Get-DbaUptime -SqlInstance winserver\sqlexpress, sql2016

Returns an object with SQL Server start time, uptime as TimeSpan object, uptime as a string, and Windows host boot time, host uptime as TimeSpan objects and host uptime as a string for the sqlexpress
instance on host winserver and the default instance on host sql2016

Example: 3

PS C:\> Get-DbaRegServer -SqlInstance sql2014 | Get-DbaUptime

Returns an object with SQL Server start time, uptime as TimeSpan object, uptime as a string, and Windows host boot time, host uptime as TimeSpan objects and host uptime as a string for every server
listed in the Central Management Server on sql2014

Required Parameters

-SqlInstance

The target SQL Server instance or instances.

Optional Parameters

-SqlCredential

Login to the target instance using alternative credentials. Accepts PowerShell credentials (Get-Credential).
Windows Authentication, SQL Server Authentication, Active Directory - Password, and Active Directory - Integrated are all supported.
For MFA support, please use Connect-DbaInstance.

-Credential

Specifies Windows credentials to connect to the hosting server for retrieving Windows boot time and uptime information.
Use this when you need different credentials to access the Windows server than your current PowerShell session, such as when querying servers in different domains or when running under a service
account that lacks WMI access.

-EnableException

By default, when something goes wrong we try to catch it, interpret it and give you a friendly warning message.
This avoids overwhelming you with “sea of red” exceptions, but is inconvenient because it basically disables advanced scripting.
Using this switch turns this “nice by default” feature off and enables you to catch exceptions with your own try/catch.