Re: List availalbe SQL Servers?

In article <47e91ee9$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, jouni.aro@xxxxxxxxx (Jouni
Aro) wrote:

I would need to find out the available SQL Servers (mainly 2005,
but possibly 2000 as well, and definitely with 2008 in future) to
be able to create and connect to a new database using a selectable
database instance.

Microsoft recently published lots of private communications protocols,
suggest you read:

[MC-SQLR]: SQL Server Resolution Protocol Specification

This document specifies the SQL Server Resolution Protocol, a Microsoft
proprietary protocol. The SQL Server Resolution Protocol is an
application-layer request/response protocol that facilitates connectivity
to a database server and provides for:
- Communication endpoint information; for example, the TCP port for
connecting to a particular instance of the database server on a machine.
- Database instance enumeration.

Essentially, you send a UDP packet to port 1434 and it replies with
information about SQL instances on that server.

Angus

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