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Connecting to the SQL Server Database Engine

Connecting to the SQL Server Database Engine includes five elements:

  • Installing network protocols on the server and client computers.

    Network protocols are a feature of the operating system and are installed and configured using Microsoft Windows tools. For information about installing and configuring network protocols, see your Windows documentation, or contact your network administrator.

  • Enabling and configuring the Database Engine to listen on one or more network protocols.

    Use the SQL Server Configuration Manager, to enable the protocols you wish to use. For more information, see Server Network Configuration. When enabled, the Database Engine receives database communication from client computers formatted by the SQL Server Native Client. The SQL Server Native Client is normally installed on the server as well, for use by the local SQL Server tools.

  • Installing the SQL Server Native Client on each client computer.

    SQL Server Native Client (SQLNCLI10) is a data access technology that is new to Microsoft SQL Server, and it is a stand-alone data access Application Programming Interface (API) that is used for both OLE DB and ODBC. It combines the SQL OLE DB Provider and the SQL ODBC Driver into one native dynamic link library (DLL) while also providing new functionality that is separate and distinct from the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). Use SQL Server Setup to install SQLCLI as part of the SQL Server Tools. For more information about Net-Libraries, see Network Protocols and TDS Endpoints.

  • Enabling and configuring each client computer to connect using the desired protocol.

    After installation, use SQL Server Configuration Manager to enable protocols, and designate the order in which protocols are used when attempting a connection. For more information, see Client Network Configuration.

  • Opening ports in the firewall to permit database communication.

In This Section

  • Server Network Configuration
    Contains information about server network configuration tasks such as enabling protocols, modifying the port or pipe used by a protocol, configuring encryption, configuring the SQL Server Browser service, exposing or hiding the SQL Server Database Engine on the network, and registering the Server Principal Name.

  • Endpoint Authentication Types
    Describes the AUTHENTICATION clause of the CREATE ENDPOINT and ALTER ENDPOINT statements.

  • Network Protocols and TDS Endpoints
    Describes installing SQL Server Native Client Net-Libraries on the server and client computers and enabling a matching pair of network protocols.

  • Client Network Configuration
    Contains information about how to connect client computers to an instance of SQL Server on a network.

  • Connecting to SQL Server Through a Proxy Server
    Describes using Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server to connect to an instance of SQL Server.

  • Connecting to SQL Server over the Internet
    Describes using the Internet to connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine using SQL Server Management Studio or a client application based on OLE DB, or Open Database Connectivity (ODBC).

  • Tutorial: Getting Started with the Database Engine
    Provides a step-by-step tutorial to help you get started using the Database Engine.