Considerations
- Impact on Performance: Be aware of the potential impact on network and server performance, especially with a large number of instances. It might be better to perform this operation during off-peak hours.
- Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions on all SQL Server instances.
- Security: Be cautious with the authentication method and credentials used, especially if they are stored within CMS.
- Server Grouping: Use server groups to organize your servers logically (e.g., by environment, location, or application).
Setting up Central Management Servers in SSMS
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Establish a Central Management Server:
- Open SSMS.
- In the "Registered Servers" window (View -> Registered Servers), right-click on "Central Management Servers" and select "New Server Registration".
- Register a SQL Server instance as the Central Management Server. This server will store the list of registered SQL Server instances and manage multi-server queries.
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Registering SQL Server Instances:
- Under the newly created Central Management Server, right-click and choose "New Server Group" to create groups for organizing your servers (optional).
- Right-click on the Central Management Server or a server group, then select "New Server Registration".
- Add each SQL Server instance you want to manage. Provide the necessary connection information (server name, authentication mode, and credentials).
Executing the Query Across Multiple Servers
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Connect to the Central Management Server:
- In SSMS, connect to your Central Management Server in the "Registered Servers" window.
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Execute a Multi-Server Query:
- Right-click on the Central Management Server or a specific server group.
- Select "New Query". This opens a query window that is connected to all registered servers within that group.
- In the query window, write your SQL script:
SELECT @@version
. - Execute the query.
Viewing and Exporting Results
- The results tab in the query window will show the output of the query for each server, including server names and their respective SQL Server version information.
- You can export these results to a file (like CSV or Excel) for further analysis or documentation, using the standard SSMS export options.