Check for existence of server

Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular instance
of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for connection --
if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings (server name and
database name). But the connection check is made by calling for a scalar
value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate the error messages:
1. No server installed
2. Specified database name not installed
3. Specfied table or sproc not available
Any thoughts?Earl
1) if not exists (select * from sysservers where svrname ='blblb')
print 'Server does not exist'
2) if not exists (select * from sysdatabases where name ='blblb')
print Database does not exist'
3) if object_id('test') is null
print 'An object does not exist'
"Earl" <brikshoe@.newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:%23obJi4vLHHA.1008@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular
> instance of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for
> connection -- if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings
> (server name and database name). But the connection check is made by
> calling for a scalar value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate
> the error messages:
> 1. No server installed
> 2. Specified database name not installed
> 3. Specfied table or sproc not available
> Any thoughts?
>|||Hi Earl
"Earl" wrote:

> Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular instanc
e
> of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for connection
--
> if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings (server name an
d
> database name). But the connection check is made by calling for a scalar
> value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate the error messages:
> 1. No server installed
> 2. Specified database name not installed
> 3. Specfied table or sproc not available
> Any thoughts?
>
It sounds like you are not handling any errors that are given when you try
and connect to the server. You may want to look at:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms677489.aspx
John|||Sure as shown on page 565, you can use the dbProviderFactories.GetFactory
method to return a list of (visible) servers based on a specific provider.
These same classes can be used to start, stop or pause the server service as
well (in addition to others).
hth
____________________________________
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Author, Mentor, Consultant
Microsoft MVP
INETA Speaker
www.betav.com/blog/billva
www.betav.com
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"Earl" <brikshoe@.newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:%23obJi4vLHHA.1008@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular
> instance of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for
> connection -- if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings
> (server name and database name). But the connection check is made by
> calling for a scalar value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate
> the error messages:
> 1. No server installed
> 2. Specified database name not installed
> 3. Specfied table or sproc not available
> Any thoughts?
>