System Stored Procedures System stored procedures are packaged with SQL Server. Many procedures are used to administer SQL Server, but some are utilities that can be profitablly used by developers. They are global, and can be called from any database application without their fully qualified name. (They are all owned by dbo.) . They are all stored in the Master database, and have the prefix sp_. This is a reason why it is considered unwise to name local stored procedures with the sp_ prefix. They can be read by viewing their properties in the Query Analyzer.

Catalog Procedures
Implements ODBC data dictionary functions and isolates ODBC applications from changes to underlying system tables.

Cursor Procedures
Implements cursor variable functionality.

Database Maintenance Plan Procedures
Used to set up core maintenance tasks necessary to ensure database performance.

Distributed Queries Procedures
Used to implement and manage Distributed Queries.

Full-Text Search Procedures
Used to implement and query full-text indexes.

Log Shipping Procedures
Used to configure and manage log shipping.

OLE Automation Procedures
Allows standard OLE automation objects to be used within a standard Transact-SQL batch.

Replication Procedures
Used to manage replication.

Security Procedures
Used to manage security.

SQL Mail Procedures
Used to perform e-mail operations from within SQL Server.

SQL Profiler Procedures
Used by SQL Profiler to monitor performance and activity.

SQL Server Agent Procedures
Used by SQL Server Agent to manage scheduled and event-driven activities.

System Procedures
Used for general maintenance of SQL Server.

Web Assistant Procedures
Used by the Web Assistant.

XML Procedures
Used for Extensible Markup Language (XML) text management.

General Extended Procedures
Provides an interface from SQL Server to external programs for various maintenance activities.