You Don't Know Your SQL Server's Full Name? Don't Be a Database Dummy!
Let's face it, we all forget things sometimes. Maybe it's your grocery list, your significant other's birthday (yikes!), or, in the case of some database warriors out there, the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of your trusty SQL Server. But fear not, fellow data adventurers! This isn't a quest that requires slaying a dragon (although wrangling complex queries can feel pretty heroic). Here's how to unveil the mystery of your SQL Server's full web address, without any tears or existential database crises.
Method 1: The Power of Knowing Your Neighborhood (For Windows Users)
Imagine your SQL Server living on a friendly street in the digital world. This method helps you figure out the full address by asking your friendly neighborhood server "Hey, who am I on the internet?".
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Open the Command Prompt: Just search for "cmd" in the Start menu and unleash your inner command line warrior.
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Type the magic words: Here comes the slightly cryptic part, but don't worry, it's not magic spells (although some might argue that coding is a form of magic). Type
hostnameand press Enter.
POOF! Like a digital rabbit out of a hat, you'll see the server's computer name displayed. This, combined with your domain name (which you hopefully haven't forgotten!), forms the FQDN. For example, if your server name is SQLMachine and your domain is supercoolcompany.com, then your FQDN would be SQLMachine.supercoolcompany.com.
Method 2: SQL Server Says Hi (For T-SQL Enthusiasts)
Feeling more comfortable in the realm of SQL queries? No problem! We can chat with SQL Server itself to get the scoop on its full online identity.
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Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): Fire up SSMS, the place where you work your database magic.
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Connect to your server: This might seem obvious, but hey, it's always good to check. Connect to your SQL Server instance in SSMS.
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Flex your T-SQL muscles: Now comes the fun part! In a new query window, type the following code and press F5 to execute it:
SELECT DEFAULT_DOMAIN()[DOMAINNAME] AS 'Server Domain Name';
Abracadabra! The query should return a single row with the domain name of your SQL Server. Now you just need to add your server name (like we did in Method 1) to get the full FQDN.
Remember: These methods assume your SQL Server is set up on a domain. If it's a standalone server, things might be a bit different, but fret not, there are ways to find out its address in that case too (but that's a story for another blog post!).
So there you have it, comrades! No more struggling to remember your SQL Server's full online name. With these methods in your arsenal, you can confidently navigate the digital world, knowing exactly where your data fortress resides. Now go forth and conquer those databases!