Detecting servers

[richkid]

hello,
I would like to know if anyone has any idea on how to detect all the sql servers present on a network and the databases associated with each server???

[TRScheel]

hello,
I would like to know if anyone has any idea on how to detect all the sql servers present on a network and the databases associated with each server???

Not possible

Nor is it ethical to speak of how to do it even if it was

[in10se]

I wouldn't say it's unethical as there may be several valid reasons why you would want to do this (especially if you are a network admin, and the servers are on your network). Obviously, it is possible, because the SQL Server client tools find all instances of SQL Server on the network automatically. How they do it, I'm not sure, but the easiest way I can think of it to scan the network for open ports on TCP port 1433 or UDP port 1434.

Once you know which servers have SQL Server running on them, there are numerous ways to get a list of databases from them as long as you have access to do this in the first place. You can read the db schema or query the master db among others.

[TRScheel]

First it IS possible, because the SQL Server client tools find all instances of SQL Server on the network automatically. How they do it, I'm not sure, but the easiest way I can think of it to scan the network for open ports on TCP port 1433 or UDP port 1434.

Once you know which servers have SQL Server running on them, there are numerous ways to get a list of databases from them as long as you have access to do this in the first place. You can read the db schema or query the master db among others.

Always good to be proven wrong!