A SQL Server instance is just an installed SQL Server. A machine (server or workstation) can have multiple instances of SQL Server. The first installed instance is generally the default instance. It's name is the same as the machine name. In your connection string, you just give the machine name as the data source.

Any other instances of SQL Server installed on the same machine must be named and you use that name in the connection string to connect. For example, if the machine name is Fred and the instance is SQL2, in the connection string, you use "Data Source=Fred\SQL2".

With SSMS, you can use the same install to connect to any SQL Server instances you have rights to. I have SSMS installed on my local PC and use it to connect to several SQL Server instances on the network.


>Hi,
>
>I would to make sure that I am using the correct terms when writing to a customers. I need to write to them that they need to install a SQL Server on the application server or set up a SQL Instance with SSMS on the application server. My understanding is that "SQL Instance" would mean that the SQL Server is installed on another server with me being able to attach my application database to this SQL Instance.
>Do I understand the "SQL Instance" term correctly?
>
>TIA