Create a New Registered Server (SQL

Server Management Studio)

This topic describes how to save the connection information for servers that you access frequently, by
registering the server in the Registered Servers component of SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server
2012. A server can be registered before connecting, or when connecting from Object Explorer. There is a
special menu option to register the server instances on the local computer.
There are two kinds of registered servers:
Local server groups
Use local server groups to easily connect to servers that you frequently manage. Both local and non-
local servers are registered into local server groups. Local server groups are unique to each user. For
information about how to share registered server information, see Export Registered Server
Information (SQL Server Management Studio) and Import Registered Server Information (SQL Server
Management Studio).
Note
We recommend that you use Windows Authentication whenever possible.
Central Management Servers
Central Management Servers store server registrations in the Central Management Server instead of
on the file system. Central Management Servers and subordinate registered servers can be registered
only by using Windows Authentication. After a Central Management Server has been registered, its
associated registered servers will be automatically displayed. For more information about Central
Management Servers, see Administer Multiple Servers Using Central Management Servers. Versions of
SQL Server that are earlier than SQL Server 2008 cannot be designated as a Central Management
Server.
Using SQL Server Management Studio
To automatically register the local server instances
In Registered Servers, right-click any node in the Registered Servers tree, and then click Update
Local Server Registration.

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Page 1 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Page 1 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
To create a new registered server
If Registered Servers is not visible in SQL Server Management Studio, on the View menu, click
Registered Servers.

Server type
When a server is registered from Registered Servers, the Server type box is read-only, and
matches the type of server displayed in the Registered Servers pane. To register a different
type of server, click Database Engine, Analysis Server, Reporting Services, or Integration
Services on the Registered Servers toolbar before starting to register a new server.
Server name
Select the server instance to register in the format: <servername>[\<instancename>].
Authentication
Two authentication modes are available when connecting to an instance of SQL Server.
Windows Authentication
Windows Authentication mode allows a user to connect through a Microsoft Windows user
account.
SQL Server Authentication
When a user connects with a specified login name and password from a nontrusted
connection, SQL Server performs the authentication itself by checking whether aSQL Server
login account has been set up and whether the specified password matches the one
previously recorded. If SQL Server does not have a login account set, authentication fails, and
the user receives an error message.
Security Note
When possible, use Windows Authentication. For more information, see Choose an
Authentication Mode.
User name
Shows the current user name you are connecting with. This read-only option is only available
if you have selected to connect using Windows Authentication. To change User names, log
in to the computer as a different user.
Login
Enter the login to connect with. This option is available only if you have selected to connect
using SQL Server Authentication.
Password
Enter the password for the login. This option can be edited only if you have selected to
connect by using SQL Server Authentication.
Remember password
Select to have SQL Server encrypt and store the password you have entered. This option is
displayed only if you have selected to connect using SQL Server Authentication.
Page 2 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Page 2 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Note
If you have stored the password and want to stop storing it, clear this check box, and then
click Save.
Registered server name
The name you want to appear in Registered Servers. This name does not have to match the
Server name box.
Registered server description
Enter an optional description of the server.
Test
Click to test the connection to the server selected in Server name.
Save
Click to save the registered server settings.
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Multiserver Queries
The Query Editor window in SQL Server Management Studio can connect to and query multiple instances
of SQL Server at the same time. The results that are returned by the query can be merged into a single
results pane, or they can be returned in separate results panes. As an option, Query Editor can include
columns that provide the name of the server that produced each row, and also the login that was used to
connect to the server that provided each row. For more information about how to execute multiserver
queries, see Execute Statements Against Multiple Servers Simultaneously (SQL Server Management Studio).
To execute queries against all the servers in a local server group, right-click the server group, point to click
Connect, and then click New Query. When queries are executed in the new Query Editor window, they will
execute against all servers in the group, using the stored connection information including the user
authentication context. Servers registered by using SQL Server Authentication but not saving the password
will fail to connect.
To execute queries against all the servers that are registered with a Central Management Server, expand
the Central Management Server, right-click the server group, point to click Connect, and then click New
Query. When queries are executed in the new Query Editor window, they will execute against all of the
servers in the server group, using the stored connection information and using the Windows
Authentication context of the user.
[Top]
See Also
Page 3 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Page 3 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
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Hide System Objects in Object Explorer
Export Registered Server Information (SQL Server Management Studio)
Import Registered Server Information (SQL Server Management Studio)

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Page 4 of 4 Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)