Register Servers

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

Registering a server in SQL Server Management Studio allows you to store the server connection information for future connections.There are three ways to register a server in SQL Server Management Studio.

  1. Local instances of SQL Server are automatically registered during the first launch of Management Studio after its installation.

  2. You can also initiate the automatic registration process at any time, to restore the registration of local server instances.

  3. Lastly, you can register a server using the Registered Servers tool in SQL Server Management Studio.

Benefits of Registered Servers

With Registered Servers you can:

  • Register servers to preserve the connection information.

  • Determine if a registered server is running.

  • Easily connect Object Explorer and Query Editor to a registered server.

  • Edit or delete the registration information for a registered server.

  • Create groups of servers.

  • Provide user-friendly names for registered servers by providing a value in the Registered server name box that is different from the Server name list.

  • Provide detailed descriptions for registered servers.

  • Provide detailed descriptions of registered server groups.

  • Export registered server groups.

  • Import registered server groups.

  • View the SQL Server log files for online or offline instances of SQL Server.

Use the following topics to get started with registered servers:

Description Topic
Register local server instances Register a Connected Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Register a server Create a New Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
View registered servers View Registered Servers in SQL Server Management Studio
Remove a registered server Remove a Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Change a server's registration Change a Server's Registration (SQL Server Management Studio)
Connect to a registered server Connect to a Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Disconnect from a registered server Disconnect from a Registered Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Move a registered server or server group Move a Registered Server or Registered Server Group (SQL Server Management Studio)
Change the name of a registered server or server group Change the Name of a Registered Server or Registered Server Group (SQL Server Management Studio)
Create or edit a server group Create or Edit a Server Group (SQL Server Management Studio)
Remove a server group Remove a Server Group (SQL Server Management Studio)
Export registered server information Export Registered Server Information (SQL Server Management Studio)
Import registered server information Import Registered Server Information (SQL Server Management Studio)
Create a Central Management Server and Server Group Create a Central Management Server and Server Group (SQL Server Management Studio)
Execute statements against multiple servers simultaneously Execute Statements Against Multiple Servers Simultaneously (SQL Server Management Studio)

See Also

Remote Servers