Why do I need to reference the server name now but not in MSDE 2000?

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Why do I need to reference the server name now but not in MSDE 2000?

With SQL 2000 and MSDE 2000, I only had to put a "." for the server name in a connection string. Now with SQL Express 2005 I have to acually reference the server instance name ".\SQLEXPRESS".

Why is this

Also, when running the command line tools for running scripts, I have to include the parameter "-S MACHINE\SQLEXPRESS" in the command line where as before I never used the -S parameter at all.

Anyone know why I am curious because it is going to cause an impact on our upgrades for the client.

My only answer to these questions is that there is no SQL Agent running anymore.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

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Why do I need to reference the server name now but not in MSDE 2000?

  • remedios_

    But I chose default instance when I installed SQL Express.

  • TJC2

    . is the default instance and .\SQLEXPRESS is a named instance. In SQL2000 too it needed to be specified when you're using a named instance.

  • AcrossThePond

    That may be exactly what happened. I just looked under registered servers and I see 'MACHINE\sqlexpress' as my server. Does that mean I chose a NAMED instance

    Do you know if you can change this once you have installed or do I have to reinstall

    Thanks

  • JSarna

    You'll have to reinstall. A lot of things are associated with instances, e.g. registry location, file dir, master file, etc.

  • nomer

    Check your registered servers from SSMS. I believe at the time of installation you chose a named instance.

  • Mike Barry

    The default for SQL Express is to use a named instance. If you did not manually change the setting to install a the default instance, it installs to the instance name SQLEXPRESS. I'm guessing you didn't change anything.

    Mike



  • Luiso

    Mike Wachal - MSFT wrote:

    The default for SQL Express is to use a named instance. If you did not manually change the setting to install a the default instance, it installs to the instance name SQLEXPRESS. I'm guessing you didn't change anything.

    Mike



    I have re-installed SQL Server Express and made sure that I selected default instance this time and it works now with just "." as the server. I don't remember having to select default instance when I installed MSDE 2000, so maybe it has changed with Express and that is why I never noticed during installation.

    Thank you very much.

    Scott
  • Why do I need to reference the server name now but not in MSDE 2000?
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