This question regards SQL Server 2005 and 2012.
I have a database server with two instances of SQL Server. Through SQL Server Management Studio I was able to connect to both instances by providing "IP-Address"\"InstanceName" and user ID/password. But, I was not able to telnet the server on port 1433 from command prompt of the client PC.
Finally, when I specified TCP port 1433 through "SQL Server Configuration Manager" on the server and restart SQL Server services I was able to telnet to server on port 1433.
I want to know how "SQL Server Management Studio" was able to make a connection with SQL Server even if port 1433 was not active on SQL Server? And, the sequence of activities that takes place in background when Management Studio initiates connection with SQL Server?
Best Answer
Please do not change Sql Server's TCP port unless you know what you are doing. This needs to be done only in specific scenarios like manual SPN registrations with failover cluster setups or restricted environments.
Sql Server installations contain a special service called Sql Browser Service. When a client tries to connect to a named instance, it will ask connection details from the browser service. As per the documentation: