How to check the status of SQL Server? I need to check the status of SQL Server. When I say status its not the status for each database, but rather for the whole SQL Server. 

I need to know what are the queries running in the server and no. of connections, which query is taking too long. 

Can anyone please help me with this..
You'd have more options here:


Perfmon (or ResourceMonitor on W7+) for general resource information;
Activity Monitor in Management Studio;
Inside SQL Server:


Glenn Berry's DMV queries;
Adam Machanic's stored procedure sp_WhoIsActive.



There are also many other external monitoring tools (some free, some paid) that you can use, but these ones are free and worth mentioning as a first step in your work.