Create SQL Server Connections

Create SQL Server and SQL Azure Connections

You can create a new connection, or connect to an existing connection from the Create New Connection window. Troubleshoot SQL Server® Issues about troubleshooting connection issues.

Click here to view a video about creating connections in Toad Data Point

Note: For SQL Azure connections:

• To be able to utilize majority of Toad functionality please grant VIEW DEFINITION on the SQL Azure databases you want to work with.
• You can login to Windows Azure Platform by selecting Tools | Cloud Computing | SQL Azure Portal and providing your credentials.
• Make sure that no Azure firewall rule restricts your IP address from having access to Azure server. See Create and Alter Azure Firewall Rules for more information.

To create a new connection

1. Click on the toolbar (ALT+F+N).

2. Select Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft SQL Azure from the Group list box.

3. Review the following for additional information:

   Login Tab	Description
   Server name	Enter the name of the server to use when connecting. Click to display any servers running SQL Server that are currently active on the network. Notes: For SQL Azure connections, enter InstanceName.database.windows.net in this field. For named instances, enter the MachineName\InstanceName in this field.
   Authentication	Select the type of authentication to use for this connection. You can connect to an Azure SQL database with Active Directory authentication (either Active Directory Integrated Authentication or Active Directory Password Authentication). Client configuration is required. See https:// docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-aad-authentication-configure#configure-your-client-computers You can also connect to an Azure SQL database with Active Directory Universal with MFA. Note: You cannot create a SQL Azure connection using Windows Authentication.
   Password	Enter the password to use when connecting. Tip: After connecting, you can set a master password to further secure your connection in Tools | Options| Environment | Security.
   Application ID	Enter the application ID located in App registrations in Azure Active Directory. (This is a mandatory field when connecting to Microsoft SQL Azure via MFA.)
   Redirect URI	Enter the appropriate redirect URI.(This is an optional field when connecting to Microsoft SQL Auzre via MFA which can be left empty unless you have specific requirements for configuring the Redirect URI.)
   Category	Select or create a category if you want to color code Editor tabs for a specific connection. This can help differentiate between development and production databases. You can also set an option to color code the Object Explorer pane and object editor windows (Create, Alter, Drop, etc.). Set Connection Categories  Click here to view a video of this feature.
   Encrypt connection	Select this option to enable encryption for the current connection provided that the certificate has been already installed on the server.
   Advanced Tab	Description
   Network protocol	Select one of the following: Shared Memory TCP/IP Named Pipes Note: When establishing Named Pipes connection "Poll service status in connection list" option should be cleared.
   Parameter Name/Value	You can add parameters to the connection. Toad includes the Application Name parameter with value Toad Data Point by default.
   OBDC driver	Select an ODBC driver to use for this connection when creating cross-connection queries. Tip: You can specify the ODBC driver to use for all connections for this database provider in Tools | Options | Database | SQL Server.

4. Click Connect to save the connection and immediately connect to the database.

   or

   Click Save to save the connection without connecting to the database.  

Tip: Connections are stored in the connections.xml file and can be found by clicking the Application Data Directory link in Help | About.

To import connections (including Central Management Server connections)

1. Click .

2. Specify the location where the connections currently reside.

   Note: Review the following for additional information on CMS connections:

   • To import CMS connections, select a server from the list where the CMS is registered. The connection to this SQL Server instance should be created beforehand.
   • CMS is available beginning with Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
   • User should have an appropriate login (Windows Authentication and grant to connect to selected server are required) created on the server to which he connects via CMS.
3. Select the connections to be imported.

Related Topics

Connection/Navigation Manager

Manage Connections

Understand Toad Connections

Switching Connections in Toad

Troubleshoot SQL Server® Issues

Microsoft SQL Azure Connections with Multi-factor Authentication

To create this type of connection to Microsoft SQL Azure, Active Directory Universal with MFA needs to be selected from the Authentication field dropdown.

The next step is to enter a user name which has been configured for multi-factor authentication and put in the appropriate App ID. After filling out the required information, click on Connect.

The step that follows will enable you to select a user from the list or add another one by clicking on Use another account.

After that, you will be prompted to enter your credentials and depending on the type of authentication that the account has been configured with, you will undergo an additional authentication step, such as the one in the image below.

After completing the final authentication step, a successful connection to Microsoft SQL Azure will be made.

Limitations of Microsoft SQL Azure connections with Multi-factor Authentication

• Publishing Snapshots, Views, Automation scripts, and Workbooks to Toad Intelligence Central cannot be performed when using Active Directory Universal with MFA type of authentication.