Scenario is: I have SQL 2012 running as a named instance 'SQL2012'. I can connect to this via SSMS using '.\SQL2012'
Working on a new project, I now want this named instance to be accessible as '.'
To complicate matters, I also have SQL 2014 installed as the default instance, don't need this simultaneously so we can assume this instance is stopped.
I have tried various combinations of alias, the most obvious being:
I've also tried setting the port number to the Dynamic Port found in the network configuration, but nothing I've tried so far seems to work.
Is this supported, and if so, what am I missing?
Best Answer
Turns out, it is possible, and after some more experimentation I figured this out. I think the missing elements were:
.\SQL2012
as the server name instead ofMACHINENAME\SQL2012
Full Steps
TCP/IP
is set toEnabled
, if it's not, right-click and choose EnableTCP/IP
Listen All
is set toYes
Alias Name
, enter '.'Port No
, enter the value you noted earlier from TCP Dynamic Ports.Protocol
asTCP/IP
Server
, enter.\<yourinstancename>