Question

What is the best way to check database access from remote machine.

Here is the situation:

• SQL Server 2005 (or 2008) is running on MACHINE1 (Windows 2003 or 2008). There is a database called ENTERPRISEDB.

• Another server, called MACHINE2 (Windows 2003 or 2008). It has ODBC connection to MACHINE1.

Now, what is the best and simplest SQL query to check if MACHINE2 can connect and access the ENTERPRISEDB in MACHINE1?

Thanks.

Answer 1

If your ODBC connection is to database ENTERPRISEDB then you could run

SELECT top 1 1 FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.SCHEMATA WHERE CATALOG_NAME='ENTERPRISEDB'

which will return “1” if the database exists or nothing if it doesn’t.

If you need a boolean/int return then try

SELECT case when COUNT(*) >0 then 1 else 0 end 
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.SCHEMATA WHERE CATALOG_NAME='ENTERPRISEDB'

which will return “1” if it exists, “0” if it doesn’t.