With the advent of SQL Server, it is no longer possible to use the Enterprise Manager that came with SQL Server in order to connect. However there are many alternatives that you can use. There are three ways which we recommend, and they are detailed below:
Option One: SQL Server Management Studio
This software is supplied if you buy a copy of the SQL Server software itself from Microsoft, and is the full client which we recommend that you use if you have it. With many improvements over the old Enterprise Manager which it replaced, this is a great way to manage your databases. Connection details can be found on the database page in Helm, or you can follow the connection steps from the tutorial for the express edition (Option Two) below, which is similar. Only serious developers or companies are likly to have access to this, so although its a recommended way to do it, it will not be the most popular.
Option Two: SQL Server Management Studio Express (Free!)
Unlike SQL Server 2000's Enterprise Manager, an express edition of the management studio mentioned above is available for free download from the Microsoft website. We recommend this to anyone who doesn't have the full client. At the time of writing this article, the download could be found here:
Download hereOption Three: Web Data Administrator (Free!)
You can connect to the SQL server via the URL:
http://mssqladmin.asphostingserver.com or
http://mssqladmin.asphostingcluster.com . You will need to specify the MS SQL database username, password and IP address (available in HELM).
