How to find server name of SQL Server Management Studio

visual-studio-2010 sql-server-2008 ssms
Cantremember picture Cantremember · Apr 18, 2013 · Viewed 760.9k times · Source

I installed Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

When I start SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), I get the Connect to Server login window with a blank textbox for Server name. I have tried a lot of names, but I couldn't solve it.

How can I find / get the server name?

Answer

PoweredByOrange picture PoweredByOrange · Apr 18, 2013

Open up SQL Server Configuration Manager (search for it in the Start menu). Click on SQL Server Services. The instance name of SQL Server is in parenthesis inline with SQL Server service. If it says MSSQLSERVER, then it's the default instance. To connect to it in Management Studio, just type . (dot) OR (local) and click Connect. If the instance name is different, then use .\[instance name] to connect to it (for example if the instance name is SQL2008, connect to .\SQL2008).

Also make sure SQL Server and SQL Server Browser services are running, otherwise you won't be able to connect.

Edit:

Here's a screenshot of how it looks like on my machine. In this case, I have two instances installed: SQLExpress and SQL2008.

enter image description here

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