How to reference a sql server with a backslash (\) in its name?

sql-server sql-server-2005 tsql linked-server
Bill Paetzke picture Bill Paetzke · Mar 31, 2010 · Viewed 27.2k times · Source

Givens:

  • One SQL Server is named: DevServerA
  • Another is named: DevServerB\2K5

Problem:

From DevServerA, how can I write a query that references DevServerB\2K5?

I tried a sample, dummy query (running it from DevServerA):

SELECT TOP 1 *  
FROM DevServerB\2K5.master.sys.tables

And I get the error:

Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 2
Incorrect syntax near '\.'.

However, I know my syntax is almost correct, since the other way around works (running this query from DevServerB\2K5):

SELECT TOP 1 *  
FROM DevServerA.master.sys.tables

Please help me figure out how to reference DevServerB\2K5 from DevServerA. Thanks.

Answer

Remus Rusanu picture Remus Rusanu · Mar 31, 2010

In 4 part names, the first part if the name of a linked server (ie. a metadata object), not the name of a server (ie. a host name). So you can name your linked server FOO and have him point at the host BAR, or at the instance FOO\BAR. And even if you name the linked server object to contain a slash, you can still use it in a multi-part name by simply quoting the name:

SELECT TOP 1 *  
FROM [DevServerB\2K5].master.sys.tables

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