I am running SSMS V18.2 and connecting to SQL 2008 – 2019 instances.
I am researching various multiple subnet connection scenarios. I learned that ODBC 13.1+ includes TransparentNetworkIPResolution which alters the way connections are made with multiple subnets.
My computer has several different drivers on it.
I want to know which (if any) of these SSMS is using for direct connections to SQL instances in my network.
I have looked at tools > options and I don't see anything that gives me an option to change what driver is used to connect.
When I Google, I get results about using ODBC for Linked servers.
Does SSMS use ODBC for direct connects?
If so can I select which one it uses?
Edit There is a comment and an answer indicating SSMS does not use ODBC, based on my continuing research it I think it uses the SQL Server Native Client 11.0 in the screen shot above.
Looking at Using Connection String Keywords with SQL Server Native Client it seems like you can connect with the driver of you choice using the keyword Driver I am still researching how that might work.
Edit2 Actually it looks like (see related)
the driver is not one of those in the screen shot, nor can you use the keyword driver to change drivers.
Best Answer
SSMS doesn't use ODBC drivers to connect to SQL Server databases. It uses the .Net Framework driver. You cannot choose which driver it uses as it is hard-coded in the application. But why would you need to choose another one?
Linked servers are another thing. It is your DB Server itself connecting to another server. If it is SQL Server, it will use its native driver. It if it another DB Engine type, it will then ask you which driver to use. And this is where you select your ODBC driver for MySQL, Oracle, Postgres or other.