SQL Server 2008 – Enable Windows Authentication Without Domain

authenticationSecuritysql serversql-server-2008

We have an SQL server instance running on a standalone server (not part of the organizations domain network). Is there any way that we can use windows authentication to logon to sql server without having to add the remote server to the domain. I hope my question is clear, what is want is to be able to logon to sql server using windows authentication from my client, but I am not able to add windows users in sql server because the server is not part of the domain and so cannot identify the domain users that I am trying to add. Is there any way to get around this?

Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

Plan answer: No.

Let me explain:

Windows Authentication is just that, authenticating with a Window's login. So if you are dealing with a workgroup computer where you are on a domain it will not work, because that server can only authenticate a local account.

If you are talking about connecting with SSMS, you can try the runas coomand through command prompt and use the "netonly" parameter. I use this for connecting from workgroup to domain.