--- title: "sp_addserver (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs" ms.custom: "" ms.date: "06/10/2016" ms.prod: sql ms.prod_service: "database-engine" ms.reviewer: "" ms.technology: system-objects ms.topic: "language-reference" f1_keywords: - "sp_addserver" - "sp_addserver_TSQL" dev_langs: - "TSQL" helpviewer_keywords: - "sp_addserver" - "renaming servers" - "machine names [SQL Server]" - "computer names" ms.assetid: 160a6b29-5e80-44ab-80ec-77d4280f627c author: stevestein ms.author: sstein --- # sp_addserver (Transact-SQL) [!INCLUDE[tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md](../../includes/tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md.md)] Defines the name of the local instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. When the computer hosting [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] is renamed, use **sp_addserver** to inform the instance of the [!INCLUDE[ssDEnoversion](../../includes/ssdenoversion-md.md)] of the new computer name. This procedure must be executed on all instances of the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)] hosted on the computer. The instance name of the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)] cannot be changed. To change the instance name of a named instance, install a new instance with the desired name, detach the database files from old instance, attach the databases to the new instance and drop the old instance. Alternatively, you can create a client alias name on the client computer, redirecting the connection to different server and instance name or **server:port** combination without changing the name of the instance on the server computer. ![Topic link icon](../../database-engine/configure-windows/media/topic-link.gif "Topic link icon") [Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md) ## Syntax ``` sp_addserver [ @server = ] 'server' , [ @local = ] 'local' [ , [ @duplicate_ok = ] 'duplicate_OK' ] ``` ## Arguments `[ @server = ] 'server'` Is the name of the server. Server names must be unique and follow the rules for [!INCLUDE[msCoName](../../includes/msconame-md.md)] Windows computer names, although spaces are not allowed. *server* is **sysname**, with no default. When multiple instances of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] are installed on a computer, an instance operates as if it is on a separate server. Specify a named instance by referring to *server* as *servername\instancename*. `[ @local = ] 'LOCAL'` Specifies that the server that is being added as a local server. **\@local** is **varchar(10)**, with a default of NULL. Specifying **\@local** as **LOCAL** defines **\@server** as the name of the local server and causes the @@SERVERNAME function to return the value of *server*. [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Setup sets this variable to the computer name during installation. By default, the computer name is the way users connect to an instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] without requiring additional configuration. The local definition takes effect only after the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)] is restarted. Only one local server can be defined in each instance of the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)]. `[ @duplicate_ok = ] 'duplicate_OK'` Specifies whether a duplicate server name is allowed. **\@duplicate_OK** is **varchar(13)**, with a default of NULL. **\@duplicate_OK** can only have the value **duplicate_OK** or NULL. If **duplicate_OK** is specified and the server name that is being added already exists, no error is raised. If named parameters are not used, **\@local** must be specified. ## Return Code Values 0 (success) or 1 (failure) ## Remarks To set or clear server options, use **sp_serveroption**. **sp_addserver** cannot be used inside a user-defined transaction. Using **sp_addserver** to add a remote server is discontinued. Use [sp_addlinkedserver](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-addlinkedserver-transact-sql.md) instead. ## Permissions Requires membership in the **setupadmin** fixed server role. ## Examples The following example changes the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)] entry for the name of the computer hosting [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] to `ACCOUNTS`. ``` sp_addserver 'ACCOUNTS', 'local'; ``` ## See Also [Rename a Computer that Hosts a Stand-Alone Instance of SQL Server](../../database-engine/install-windows/rename-a-computer-that-hosts-a-stand-alone-instance-of-sql-server.md) [sp_addlinkedserver (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-addlinkedserver-transact-sql.md) [sp_dropserver (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-dropserver-transact-sql.md) [sp_helpserver (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-helpserver-transact-sql.md) [System Stored Procedures (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/system-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md) [Security Stored Procedures (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/security-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md)