What is a SQL Server Instance (in simple terms)?

  • What is a SQL Server Instance and how do I determine how many instances of SQL Server we have? Thanks.

  • An installation of the SQL executables which can be run independently in memory. You have at minimum 1 instance but can install more that can be run independently in memory. You find all usually you can either look under Services control panel or use PerfMon look at SQL counters and will list individual instances in most all cases.

  • Or simpler yet...

    Open Enterprise Manager, expand the Microsoft SQL Servers, expand SQL Server Group. Anything under there is an instance.

    The default instance will be servername

    additional instances will be servername\instance_name

    -SQLBill

  • The only problem is they do not always get attached to EM when installed. Not a guranteed place to see.

  • Antares has a good point. Thanks for pointing that out.

    -SQLBill

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