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Create SQL Server and SQL Azure Connections

You can create a new connection, or connect to an existing connection from the Create New Connection window. See Troubleshoot SQL Server® Issues for more information about troubleshooting connection issues.

Note: For SQL Azure connections:

• To be able to utilize majority of Toad functionality please grant VIEW DEFINITION on the SQL Azure databases you want to work with.
• You can login to Windows Azure Platform by selecting Tools | Cloud Computing | SQL Azure Portal and providing your credentials.
• Make sure that no Azure firewall rule restricts your IP address from having access to Azure server. See Create and Alter Azure Firewall Rules for more information.

To create a new connection

1. Click on the toolbar (ALT+F+N).

2. Select SQL Server from the Group list box.

3. Review the following for additional information:

   Login Tab	Description
   Server name	Enter the name of the server to use when connecting. Click to display any servers running SQL Server that are currently active on the network. Notes: For SQL Azure connections, enter InstanceName.database.windows.net in this field. For named instances, enter the MachineName\InstanceName in this field.
   Password	Enter the password to use when connecting. Tip: After connecting, you can set a master password to further secure your connection in Tools | Options| Environment | Security.
   Category	Select or create a category if you want to color code Editor tabs for a specific connection. This can help differentiate between development and production databases. You can also set an option to color code the Object Explorer pane and object editor windows (Create, Alter, Drop, etc.). See Set Connection Categories for more information.  Click here to view a video of this feature.
   Encrypt connection	Select this option to enable encryption for the current connection provided that the certificate has been already installed on the server.
   Advanced Tab	Description
   Network protocol	Select one of the following: Shared Memory TCP/IP Named Pipes Note: When establishing Named Pipes connection "Poll service status in connection list" option should be cleared.
   Parameter Name/Value	You can add parameters to the connection. Toad includes the Application Name parameter with value Toad for SQL Server by default.

4. Click Connect to save the connection and immediately connect to the database.

   or

   Click Save to save the connection without connecting to the database.  

Tip: Connections are stored in the connections.xml file and can be found by clicking the Application Data Directory link in Help | About.

To import connections (including Central Management Server connections)

1. Click .

2. Specify the location where the connections currently reside.

   Note: Review the following for additional information on CMS connections:

   • To import CMS connections, select a server from the list where the CMS is registered. The connection to this SQL Server instance should be created beforehand.
   • CMS is available beginning with Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
   • User should have an appropriate login (Windows Authentication and grant to connect to selected server are required) created on the server to which he connects via CMS.
3. Select the connections to be imported.

Related Topics

Connection/Navigation Manager

Manage Connections

Understand Toad Connections

Switching Connections in Toad

Troubleshoot SQL Server® Issues

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