CODEWITHSUNDEEP
sql-server
vico
vico

Reputation: 18175

Using two SQL Server instances

I have two SQL Server services running on my server - MSSQLSERVER and SQLEXPRESS:

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I do connect from remote machine using Management Studio. I can connect to SQLEXPRESS by entering server name- GM\SQLEXPRESS.

I can connect to MSSQLSERVER by entering server just PC name - GM without instance name, but I can't connect using instance name GM\MSSQLSERVER.

Why do I need to provide instance name for SQLEXPRESS while I can't use it in MSSQLSERVER case ?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 407

Answers (1)

marc_s
marc_s

Reputation: 754200

MSSQLSERVER is the default, unnamed instance - of which there can only be one on any machine, and since it's the default instance, you connect to it by using just the machine name (or ., (local), or localhost if it's running on your own machine).

That's just the way Microsoft designed and built it.

Any other instance you want must have a separate, distinct name - and in that case, you must use that instance name (together with the machine name) to connect to it - SQLEXPRESS is just one example, you can name your instance anything you like (as long as it's a valid instance name and not MSSQLSERVER :-)

Upvotes: 1

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