Same SQL Server Instance name on two different Windows 2008 R2 servers

  • Hi,

    We have two different Windows 2008 R2 servers (Server1 and Server2) on the same domain. The questions I have are:

    1) Can I have the same named instance on both the servers (Server1\Instance1, Server2\Instance2)?

    2) Will this cause any problems for operations.

    Thanks in advance for the replies.

    Raghuveer S

  • raghusg (5/13/2013)


    Hi,

    We have two different Windows 2008 R2 servers (Server1 and Server2) on the same domain. The questions I have are:

    1) Can I have the same named instance on both the servers (Server1\Instance1, Server2\Instance2)?

    2) Will this cause any problems for operations.

    Thanks in advance for the replies.

    Raghuveer S

    Your example doesn't have the same instance names? typo?

    a classic example in my shop is everyones developer machines have 2008 and 2012 both as instances.

    so my machine, DEV223, has instances named DEV223\SQL2008 and DEV223\SQL2012.

    The guy in the next cube has a machine named DEV241, and he has isntances named DEV241\SQL2008 and DEV241\SQL2012

    it's the combination of machine name + instance name that is required to be unique across the network, not just the isntance name.

    Does that help?

    Lowell


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  • Thank you very much for the response.

    Sorry for the typo.

    Yes, it does answer the question.

    The combination of Server Name\Instancename in our case would be WIDSQL04\ProjectWise (Development) and WIPSQL04\ProjectWise (Production).

    Do you see any problems with this?

    Thanks again.

  • I'm assuming the part in parenthesis is for our benefit and not part of the name? If so, you are fine.

    Instance names must be unique on a Windows host. On a network, the hostname\instancename must be unique. These two are unique

    WIDSQL04\ProjectWise

    WIPSQL04\ProjectWise

    Because the hostname is different.

    Put another way, I can have a "Sales" instance on every windows machine on my network.

  • Steve -

    Question for you, I know this is an old post but I was curious about where you have two different nodes (node1 and node2) and having two sql instances with the same name. Would it be acceptable:

    Server1:

    SQLSERVER\Instance1

    Server2:

    SQLSERVER\Instance1

    I know if you are on the same network, you use servername\instancename to connect to SQL. I assume the above case it is not acceptable since both server name and instance names are the same even though they are on different nodes. Please correct me if I am wrong.

    Thanks,

  • lsalih (10/27/2014)


    Steve -

    Question for you, I know this is an old post but I was curious about where you have two different nodes (node1 and node2) and having two sql instances with the same name. Would it be acceptable:

    Server1:

    SQLSERVER\Instance1

    Server2:

    SQLSERVER\Instance1

    I know if you are on the same network, you use servername\instancename to connect to SQL. I assume the above case it is not acceptable since both server name and instance names are the same even though they are on different nodes. Please correct me if I am wrong.

    Thanks,

    No, on a Windows network the computername must be unique and usually no more than 15 characters.

    You cannot have 2 hosts called SQLServer. You could have the following

    Server1:

    SQLSERVER1\Instance1

    Server2:

    SQLSERVER2\Instance1

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    "Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

  • Perry - Thank you.

  • What Perry said.

    Windows name unique. SQL instance names unique on a host.

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