What information is needed for a client tool or application to connect to a SQL Server database using the TCP/IP protocol?

In order to connect to a SQL Server database using the TCP/IP protocol, you need to know the following information:

1. Host Name - The name of the hosting computer where the SQL Server is running. For example, localhost or sql-server.company.com.

2. SQL Server Instance Name - The name of the SQL Server instance that is running on the hosting server. This is required to identify the SQL Server instance you want to connect to, in case there are multiple SQL Server instances are running on the same hosting server. If not provided, you will be connected to the default instance.

3. TCP Port Number - The port number where the SQL Server instance is listening for client connection requests. If not provided, the SQL Server uses TCP port number, 1433, will be used.

4. Database Name - The name of the target database you want to interact with. If not provided, you will be connected to the default database hosted in the SQL Server instance.

5. Schema Name - The name of the target schema you want to interact with. If not provided, you will be connected to the default schema, dbo.

6. User Name/Password - The user name and password defined in the SQL Server instance. This is required to identify and authenticate the user who is making the client connection request.

⇒ Configuring ODBC Connection and DSN for SQL Servers

⇐ SQL Server Connection Protocols

⇑ SQL Server Connection Concepts

⇑⇑ SQL Server Connection Tutorials