Today, A weird though come into mind to check the different way to connect to SQL Server instance. Diffrent strings, I can pass in Server Name in SSMS to connect.
I am surprised but I got 21 different way to connect & may be there are many more ways. I am connecting to the default instance of SQL Server from the same system where it is installed.
1. Connecting using computer name
2. Connecting using system IP
3. Connecting using loopback IP 127.0.0.1
4. Connecting using localhost
5. Connecting using (local)
6. Connecting using just a dot (.)
7. Connecting using \\.\pipe\sql\query
8. Connecting using \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\MSSQLSERVER
9. Connecting using computer name with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)
10. Connecting using \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\MSSQLSERVER with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)
11. Connecting using (local) with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)
12. Connecting using just a dot (.) with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)
13. Connecting using \\.\pipe\sql\query with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)
14. Connecting using localhost with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)
15. Connecting using computer name with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)
16. Connecting using system IP with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol) – Connect using TCP only without prefix also
17. Connecting using localhost with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)
18. Connecting using (local) with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)
19. Connecting using just a dot (.) with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)
20. Connecting using loopback IP 127.0.0.1 with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol) – Connect using TCP only without prefix also
21. Connecting using specifying port no.
