How to change SQL Server Instance Name?

52 Replies

First collect the output of the current instance configuration. You can get the instance name stored in the SQL Server metadata.

Make sure you have backup of all the database if you are changing the production server instance name.

	sp_helpserver
	select @@servername

You can change the instance name using below query.
Default Instance

	sp_dropserver 'old_name'
        go
        sp_addserver 'new_name','local'
	go

Named Instance

	sp_dropserver 'Server Name\old_Instance_name'
        go
        sp_addserver 'ServerName\New Instance Name','local'
	go

Verify sql server instance configuration by running below queries

	sp_helpserver
	select @@servername

Restart the SQL Server Services.

	net stop MSSQLServer
	net start MSSQLServer

52 thoughts on “How to change SQL Server Instance Name?”

sandeep June 16, 2009 at 7:07 am

can we create two instances in sql server standard edition?

plz explain.

Reply ↓
1. JShah Post authorJune 17, 2009 at 7:39 am
  
  Yes we can create two instances in standard edition
  
  Reply ↓
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Reply ↓
Umesh April 15, 2010 at 7:46 pm

Hi I have installed SQL server2008 on my machine with instance name “”UmeshSQL2008. but some components did not get installed. So i have reinstalled the the same with another instance name say “abcSQL2008”. Now as I have Windows7 installed on my machine there is some compatibility issue, so i have downloaded the service pack for SQL server2008 and tried to installed. but i a getting following error:
TITLE: SQL Server Setup failure.
——————————

SQL Server Setup has encountered the following error:

A failure was detected for a previous installation, patch, or repair for instance ‘UMESHSQL2008’ during configuration for features [SQL_Replication_Core_Inst,SQL_Engine_Core_Inst,MPT_AGENT_CORE_CNI,SQL_FullText_Adv,Analysis_Server_Full,RS_Server_Adv,]. In order to apply this patch package (KB968369), you must resolve any issues with the previous operation that failed. View the summary.txt log to determine why the previous operation failed.

Error code 0x84B20001

Please help me out why this is happening. how do i install the service pack for SQL server 2008.

Thanks

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Gbaksh March 19, 2011 at 9:20 pm

thanks a lot for this tip. It helped me a great deal.

Reply ↓
chandra March 27, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Hi Jugal,
Are there any best practices on logshipping articles
what is the best way to copy the big log files / backup files in logshipping from primary server to secondary server

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorApril 5, 2011 at 6:00 am
  
  Log file shouldn’t be too big, if you have scenario go for compress backup. Again you can change the interval as well.
  
  Reply ↓
Charlie July 15, 2011 at 8:33 pm

I changed the name of the instance and the sp_helpserver shows the new name but the dialog to connect to an instance still shows the old name. How do I get this to reset? I stopped and started the server instance.

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorJuly 27, 2011 at 6:36 am
  
  Can you please check the registry as well? Is it a default instance or named instance?
  
  Reply ↓
  1. Charlie July 27, 2011 at 1:55 pm
    
    The registry has several hundred entries that match the instance name. The instance is a named instance. It looks like a lot of work that I do not have time to do. I just changed the name back to the old instance name for now.
binal pandya August 2, 2011 at 12:28 pm

I am trying to install sql server 2005 express,
But the insatallation has been failed with the error message that the instance is already running.
How can i solve this?
can u help me?

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorAugust 4, 2011 at 5:29 pm
  
  Try to install the named instance…
  
  Reply ↓
Kamlesh October 7, 2011 at 6:31 am

Thanks ..
It really work but you must add 1 step to restart the server

thanks again …

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Jessica Godoy November 14, 2011 at 4:05 pm

HI,

is possible change the user of any instance?

Thanks in advance.

Jessica Godoy

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorNovember 15, 2011 at 4:11 am
  
  yes you can change the user of any instance. Can you give me more information so I can guide you.
  
  Reply ↓
ami November 15, 2011 at 10:32 am

i have database in sqlserver2005 in my pc.so now a days my pc is act as server .bt i want to change server …so what i have to do????n is it affect to my programme???

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorNovember 15, 2011 at 10:52 am
  
  I am not getting your question. If you want to move the DB server, you have to change the connection string in your programming language and have to restore the database to new machine.
  
  Let me know if you need more infromation.
  
  Reply ↓
  1. ami November 17, 2011 at 6:27 am
    
    pls give me steps how to restore or copy database to new m/c???
  2. Jugal Shah Post authorNovember 17, 2011 at 12:14 pm
    
    Hi Ami,
    First you have to take the backup of the database from the source server. You can take the backup using
    Backup database [DBName] to disk = ‘C:\dbName.bak’
    
    Next step is copy the the file to target server and execute the below command.
    Restore database [DBName] From disk = ‘C:\dbName.bak’
Fernando December 5, 2011 at 9:26 am

Hi Jugal,

I have a scenario in of my production servers to change the default instance in SQL server 2000. Can the same steps be used in SQL 2000 also. If not could you please any suggestions and that would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance,
Fernando

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorDecember 6, 2011 at 4:12 am
  
  Wait.. Can you tell me what exactly you want to do? You want to change the computer name or instance name?
  
  Please checkout my article http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2525/steps-to-change-the-server-name-for-a-sql-server-machine/ for more information.
  
  Reply ↓
  1. Fernando December 7, 2011 at 9:15 am
    
    I was in need of changing the instance name. But now i have opted with computer name change (cname). The article was useful and Thanks for the suggestion.
Ashish January 31, 2012 at 6:27 am

You can change the instance name by this technique but while connecting to the server, you still need to mention the old name.
Though its surprising that when you run @@servername, it will give the new changed name. But if you try to connect with this new name, you will get error.

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah February 3, 2012 at 1:42 am
  
  Hi Ashish, You can checkout my article on MSSQLTips.com http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2525/steps-to-change-the-server-name-for-a-sql-server-machine/ for more information.
  
  You can’t change the instance name alone, you have to change the machine name as well. SQL Server name would be always machine name/mssqlserver for default instance and for named instance machine name\instance name. Let me know if you need more information.
  
  Reply ↓
  1. sandeep sonawane May 9, 2012 at 11:56 am
    
    hi Jugal,
    
    This is the exact issue with me.
    I mine is a named instance of SQL2k8R2 and incorrectly named same as that of the servername. Hence making it “YSIINCONV2\YSIINCONV2” which I want to rename as “YSIINCONV2\SQL2k8R2”.
    
    So, in this case, why will I change my servername if it is not required? I want to change the instance name only. I have used sp_dropserver and sp_addserver which is showing results properly with sp_helpsever and select @@servername. But I need to connect using the old instance only.
    
    Please guide about what can be done. I dont want to uninstall and reinstall the instance, but still want to rename it as “YSIINCONV2\SQL2k8R2”
    
    Thanks a lot in advance.
    –Sandeep.
  2. Jugal Shah Post authorMay 11, 2012 at 2:25 am
    
    Try to create the alias name and connect using that.
nagaraj July 19, 2012 at 5:18 am

how to change servername in 2003? please advise me

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorJuly 23, 2012 at 8:17 pm
  
  Right My Computer and change the windows server name. and to change the SQL Server name follow the my article how to change the SQL instance name,
  
  Reply ↓
DINESH DATTATRAY VISHE July 22, 2012 at 11:26 am

net stop MSSQLServer after run following message getting

System error 5 occures..
Please help me what do ???

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorJuly 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm
  
  Check for the permission
  
  Reply ↓
kumar February 18, 2013 at 8:14 am

sir,i was uninstall the sql server 2005 because of some files missing.now i try to install the sql server 2005 again,it’s shows named instance “SQLExpress”,click on next button,it’s not move forward …please give the solution

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorFebruary 19, 2013 at 4:03 pm
  
  It means still instance is present on the server, check registry, services.msc, program files, delete all…
  
  Reply ↓
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Reply ↓
preethi July 9, 2013 at 8:43 am

Hi jugal i have downloaded one project which is in .net and sql server 2005 and trying to execute getting some error like network related or instance-specific error occured while establishing the connection to sql seever.the server not found or not accessible,verify that instance name is correct and that sql is configured to allow remote connections…i have installed sql-2005 n instance name is SQLEXPRESS..PLZ HELP ME

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorJuly 10, 2013 at 3:34 pm
  
  Check the connection string and make sure you have mentioned the correct SQL Server instance name. You can get the SQL instance name by executing Select @@servername query.
  
  Next is check protocols as well. Follow my article http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2340/resolving-could-not-open-a-connection-to-sql-server-errors/
  
  Reply ↓
  1. preethi July 11, 2013 at 12:45 pm
    
    Got jugal….its executing…thank u very much:-)
  2. Jugal Shah Post authorJuly 16, 2013 at 9:18 pm
    
    welcome
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MERCY MURITHI March 11, 2015 at 8:48 am

HI I CHANGED MY NAMED INSTANCE BUT ITS NOT APPEARING

Reply ↓
1. Jugal Shah Post authorMarch 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm
  
  Named Instance name can’t be changed. For example sqldbpool\inst2 … you can change sqldbpool to dbpool but you can’t change INST2
  
  Reply ↓
  1. SRIKANTH April 13, 2015 at 6:52 am
    
    hi sir im unable to trace my server name help me pls
  2. Jugal Shah Post authorApril 23, 2015 at 9:48 pm
    
    give me more information
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purnachandra January 30, 2016 at 1:17 pm

I am first time installing SQL SERVER, I dont want default instance name(MSSQL SERVER),can we make it as Named Instance.

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aziz May 20, 2016 at 11:37 pm

hi how i change id?

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Chreddy June 20, 2016 at 9:57 am

If it is a default instance, then how the SQL Server instance name will change? Do we need to change the host name before changing the SQL Server instance name? If not so, then what connection name I can use to connect to SQL Server instance?

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Pavan June 22, 2016 at 7:30 am

The server ‘repl_distributor’ is already defined as a Distributor. To reconfigure the server as a Distributor, you must first uninstall the exisiting Distributor. Use the stored procedure sp_dropdistributor, or use the Disable Publishing and Distribution Wizard.

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Pavan June 22, 2016 at 7:31 am

Cannot drop server ‘CALSQL4\TST1’ because it is used as a Subscriber to remote Publisher

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Chandu July 5, 2016 at 11:06 am

Hey Jugal!!

I am getting this ERROR”Transaction context in use by another session.” while I am trying to execute the SP’s across the Linked Servers.Please help me on this

Regards,

Chandu

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Ashok December 30, 2016 at 11:10 am

can a named instance listen on default port (1433) ?

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1. Jugal Shah Post authorJanuary 30, 2017 at 8:14 am
  
  Only if you configure it to listen it on 1433 and no other instance is using 1433
  
  Reply ↓