Tag: Windows Server

Windows Server administration topics relevant to SQL Server environments, including services, networking, firewall configuration, diagnostics, and OS-level troubleshooting.

  • Open SSMS as a Different Domain User

    When working in corporate SQL Server environments, you will often need to connect using a different Active Directory domain account. Common reasons include: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) does not allow switching users inside the connection dialog. To connect as another user, you must launch SSMS itself using that account. This post covers the two…

  • Testing Remote Server Port Connectivity with PowerShell

    Testing connectivity to remote server ports is a basic skill every DBA should have. Not just DBAs either — anyone running production systems needs to be able to answer one simple question quickly: Can this server actually reach that server on this port? This post shows two reliable ways to test whether a remote port…

  • How to Check Listening Ports on Windows

    When troubleshooting connectivity issues, it’s often not enough to test whether a remote port is reachable. You also need to know what is actually listening on a port locally, or whether anything is listening at all. This post focuses on the local side of the equation, what is listening on the machine itself and which…

  • How to Open PowerShell as Administrator on Windows

    Running PowerShell as Administrator is required for many system-level tasks such as configuring Windows, installing software, or running administrative scripts. If a command fails unexpectedly, one of the first things to verify is whether the PowerShell session is actually elevated. Below are the most reliable ways to open PowerShell with elevated privileges on Windows. Quick…