Introduction

Sometimes we need to list all available SQL Server instances in LAN to gain information about them. For example, it's useful when we need to write a custom installer for our database.

This tip shows us how to solves this problem.

Using the code

The code is as simple as it's possible Wink | ;)

What you need to test the code?

Create new project (windows application),
Add:

1 Label
1 ComboBox (change it name to: CmbSQLInstance)
1 DataGridView (change it name to: DGVSQLInstances)

Before you start coding, you need to set reference to System.Data.Sql namespace (as is described here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/wkze6zky%28v=vs.80%29.aspx).

'declare variables
Dim dt As Data.DataTable = Nothing, dr As Data.DataRow = Nothing

Try
    'get sql server instances in to DataTable object
    dt = Sql.SqlDataSourceEnumerator.Instance.GetDataSources()

    'load data in to ComboBox
    For Each dr In dt.Rows
        Me.CmbSQLInstance.Items.Add(dr.Item(0).ToString)
    Next
    'load data in to DataGridView
    Me.DGVSQLInstances.DataSource = dt

Catch ex As System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException
    MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, "Error!")

Catch ex As Exception
    MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, "Error!")

Finally
    'clean up ;)
    dr = Nothing
    dt = Nothing
End Try

Alternatives

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/12336/Locate-SQL-Server-instances-on-the-local-network
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/5703/Finding-SQL-Servers-on-the-Network
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11428/How-to-Exactly-Enumerate-SQL-Server-from-LAN-by-us

History

2013/02/11 - First version.
2013/02/13 - source files added

How to enum SQL Server instances in network