title: Prevent a Stored Procedure from being executed twice at the same time
body: <p>I have a stored procedure for SQL Server 2000 that can only have a single instance being executed at any given moment. Is there any way to check and ensure that the procedure is not currently in execution? </p>
  
  <p>Ideally, I'd like the code to be self contained and efficient (fast). I also don't want to do something like creating a global temp table checking for it's existence because if the procedure fails for some reason, it will always be considered as running...</p>
  
  <p><em>I've searched, I don't think this has been asked yet. If it has been, sorry.</em></p>