Database Rankings

A listing of database rankings:

• TPC:  Benchmark testing                                 http://www.tpc.org/tpch/default.asp
• dB-Engines Ranking based on popularity:     http://db-engines.com/en/ranking
  SQL Server db of the year:  http://db-engines.com/en/blog_post/67

SQL Server connections - so many ways

We found a posting on mssqlfun.com that outlined 21 ways to connect to SQL Server.
you can check out the posting here: Different Ways to Connect to SQL Server Instance

Here is summary of their findings:

       

1. Connecting using computer name

2. Connecting using system IP

3. Connecting using loopback IP 127.0.0.1

4. Connecting using localhost

5. Connecting using (local)

6. Connecting using just a dot (.)

7. Connecting using \\.\pipe\sql\query

8. Connecting using \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\MSSQLSERVER

9. Connecting using computer name with prefix np: 
    (to force to use named pipe protocol)

10. Connecting using \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\MSSQLSERVER with prefix np: 
     (to force to use named pipe protocol)

11. Connecting using (local) with prefix np: 
     (to force to use named pipe protocol)

12. Connecting using just a dot (.) with prefix np: 
     (to force to use named pipe protocol)

13. Connecting using \\.\pipe\sql\query with prefix np: 
     (to force to use named pipe protocol)

14. Connecting using localhost with prefix np: 
     (to force to use named pipe protocol)

15. Connecting using computer name with prefix tcp: 
     (to force to use TCP protocol)

16. Connecting using system IP with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol) 
     – Connect using TCP only without prefix also

17. Connecting using localhost with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

18. Connecting using (local) with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

19. Connecting using just a dot (.) with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

20. Connecting using loopback IP 127.0.0.1 with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol) 
   – Connect using TCP only without prefix also

21. Connecting using specifying port no.