How Can I Access Data from Multiple SQL Servers Using Linked Servers?

Efficiently Accessing Data from Multiple SQL Servers

Managing data spread across geographically diverse SQL Servers is simplified using SQL Server's Linked Servers feature. This powerful tool enables seamless access and retrieval of data from various databases on different servers.

Establishing Linked Server Connections

Linked Servers are configured either through SSMS's Object Explorer ("Linked Servers" node) or programmatically via the sp_addlinkedserver stored procedure. Once established, you can query remote tables using a straightforward syntax:

<code class="language-sql">SELECT *
FROM LocalTable,
     [OtherServerName].[OtherDB].[dbo].[OtherTable]</code>

Note: Replace "dbo" with the correct schema name if needed.

Practical Application

Imagine you need data from "LocalTable" on your local server and "OtherTable" residing on "OtherServerName" within the "OtherDB" database. The following query accomplishes this:

<code class="language-sql">SELECT *
FROM LocalTable,
     [OtherServerName].[OtherDB].[dbo].[OtherTable]</code>

This query combines results from both tables. Linked Servers are essential for integrating data from multiple sources, allowing complex cross-server queries and treating distributed data as a unified whole.

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