Querying Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 - Advanced Technology ...

1-12 Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2012Connecting to SQL ServerIn order to connect to an instance of SQL Server, you need to specify several items, no matter which toolyou use to connect:• The name of the instance to which you want to connect in the form hostname\instancename. Forexample, MIA-SQL\Proseware would connect to the Proseware instance on the Windows servernamed MIA-SQL. If you are connecting to the default instance, you may omit the hostname. ForMicrosoft Windows Azure, the server name is a four-part name in the form.database.windows.net.• The name of the database. If you do not specify a database name, you will be connected to thedatabase designated as your account's default by the database administrator, or to the masterdatabase if no default has been specifically assigned. In Windows Azure, it is important to connect tothe correct database since you may not change connections between user databases once connected.You must disconnect and reconnect to the desired database.• The authentication mechanism required by the server. This may be Windows Authentication, in whichyour Windows network credentials will be passed to SQL Server (no entry required), or SQL ServerAuthentication, in which a username and password for your account must be created by a databaseadministrator (you enter them at connection time). SQL Server Authentication is the only mechanismsupported by Windows Azure.Question: Which authentication method do you use to log in to SQL Server in yourorganization?