| title | Connect to Server (Database Engine) | Microsoft Docs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ms.custom | |||||||
| ms.date | 03/06/2017 | ||||||
| ms.prod | sql-server-2014 | ||||||
| ms.reviewer | |||||||
| ms.technology | ssms | ||||||
| ms.topic | conceptual | ||||||
| f1_keywords |
|
||||||
| ms.assetid | ee9017b4-8a19-4360-9003-9e6484082d41 | ||||||
| author | stevestein | ||||||
| ms.author | sstein | ||||||
| manager | craigg |
Use this dialog to view or specify options when connecting to [!INCLUDEmsCoName] [!INCLUDEssDEnoversion]. In most cases, you can connect by entering the computer name of the database server in the Server name box and then clicking Connect. If you are connecting to [!INCLUDEssExpress], use the computer name followed by \sqlexpress.
Many factors can affect your ability to connect to [!INCLUDEssNoVersion].
Server type
When registering a server from Object Explorer, select the type of server to connect to: [!INCLUDEssDE], [!INCLUDEssASnoversion], [!INCLUDEssRSnoversion], or [!INCLUDEssISnoversion]. The rest of the dialog shows only the options that apply to the selected server type. When registering a server from Registered Servers, the Server type box is read-only, and matches the type of server displayed in the Registered Servers component. To register a different type of server, select [!INCLUDEssDE], [!INCLUDEssASnoversion], [!INCLUDEssRSnoversion], [!INCLUDEssEW], or [!INCLUDEssISnoversion] from the Registered Servers toolbar before starting to register a new server.
Server name
Select the server instance to connect to. The server instance last connected to is displayed by default.
Note
To connect to an active user instance of [!INCLUDEssExpress] connect using named pipes protocol specifying the pipe name, such as np:\\.\pipe\3C3DF6B1-2262-47\tsql\query For more information, see the [!INCLUDEssExpress] documentation.
Authentication
Two authentication modes are available when connecting to an instance of the [!INCLUDEssDE].
Windows Authentication Mode (Windows Authentication)
[!INCLUDEmsCoName] Windows Authentication mode allows a user to connect through a Windows user account.
SQL Server Authentication
When a user connects with a specified login name and password from a non-trusted connection, [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] performs the authentication itself by checking to see if a [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] login account has been set up and if the specified password matches the one previously recorded. If [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] does not have a login account set, authentication fails, and the user receives an error message.
Important
When possible, use Windows Authentication.
User name
Enter the user name to connect with. This option is only available if you have selected to connect using Windows Authentication.
Login
Enter the login to connect with. This option is only available if you have selected to connect using [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Authentication.
Password
Enter the password for the login. This option is only editable if you have selected to connect using [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Authentication.
Connect
Click to connect to the server selected above.
Options
Click to display additional server connection options, such as registering a server and remembering the password.