Changing Windows credentials in Management Studio connection

  • Hi All

    I am DBA on our production servers. We are on an Active Directory environment and my username is used when I connect to the relevant database servers using Windows Authentication. That's standard stuff.

    Now due to certain circumstances, I am no longer on the domain. But I am still the DBA for this client and would like to connect to the databases using my Active Directory user and password.

    In Management Studio, it gives the option for Windows authentication, but I can't change the credentials. I would like to find out if any of you have managed to find a way to be able to change the windows credentials on the connection details in Management Studio?

  • This is how we do that from workstations on the same domain. Never tried it from a computer that wasn't on the domain so it may not work in your case.

    1) Browse to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE2) Right click on SQLWB.EXE and select Run As...

    3) Enter your alternate credentials

    4) When SSMS starts, leave Windows Authentication selected, then Connect.

  • Unfortunately, that didn't work. 🙁

    But it's a good idea though, I'll remember that for future.

  • Are you sure you supplied both your username and the domain name? Is the "Secondary Logon" Windows Service running?

    Alternatively, could you use Terminal Services to log onto the Domain.

    If you are running Vista, you could also "switch user".

    Just some ideas.

  • Yep, I did supply the full domain credentials ( ). I'll have to check about the Secondary service. Don't have Vista, so the switch user won't work.

    I'm using Terminal Server to log on at the mo, but I was just wondering about the logging on with SQLMS as I have multiple servers that I manage.

  • I've not really paid any attention to this before, but you are quite right - when Windows Authentication is selected, the username defaults to the current logged on user and is greyed-out.

    I seem to remember the old days, with Enterprise Management, that you could simply type alternative credentials at this point. In SSMS, the interface has been left unchanged, but the ability to use the username/password boxes has been removed.

    Strange.

    Having said that, RunAs should work for you.

  • Having exactly the same issue, has anyone come up with a solution?

    RunAs won't work unless you are on the same domain or that user has rights to run management studio on the workstation you are running. What you need is some way to enter separate windows credentials only when you connect to a database.

    No idea way the options to change these credentials are greyed out!! Basically the only solution is to use SQL authentication. As usual Microsoft go on about how much better Windows Authentication is over SQL authentication but make it virtually impossible to implement in a production environment.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply