Server Components in Server Explorer

You can use Server Explorer to view and manipulate data links, database connections, system resources, and SharePoint sites on any server to which you have network access. Using Server Explorer, you can:

• Open data connections.

• Log on to servers, and display their databases and system services, including event logs, message queues, performance counters, system services, and SQL databases.

• View information about available Web services and the methods and schemas they make available.

• Make data connections to SQL Servers and other databases.

• Store database projects and references.

• Drag nodes from Server Explorer into your Visual Studio projects, thus creating data components that reference the data resource or monitor its activity.

• Interact with data resources by programming to these data components created in your Visual Studio projects.

• View information about SharePoint sites and manipulate their components by using context menu commands.

The following table lists node types available in Server Explorer.

Node	Description
Data Connections	Top-level node that lists any data connections added by a user to the server. You can make Data Connections to many types of databases, including Oracle databases running on UNIX or Microsoft Windows operating systems.
[child nodes]	The child nodes beneath each data connection list the database diagrams, tables, views, stored procedures, and functions in that database. In some editions of Visual Studio, only certain types of database connections are permitted.
Servers	Top-level node that lists the servers currently available for use. Beneath each server node are listed the databases and server resources you can use in your applications. For more information, see How to: Add New Servers in Server Explorer.
Crystal Services	Child of the Servers node. Lists the available Crystal Reporting options.
Event Logs	Child of the Servers node. Lists Application, Security, and System event logs on the selected server and any custom logs present on the server. For more information, see EventLog.
Message Queues	Child of the Servers node. Lists the message queues available on the selected server, along with the messages that each queue contains. For more information about message queues, see MessageQueue .
Performance Counters	Child of the Servers node. Lists the performance counters on the selected server. For more information, see PerformanceCounter .
Services	Child of the Servers node. Lists the services that exist on the selected server, as well as the current status of each service. For more information, see ServiceController.
SharePoint Connections	Top-level node that lists any SharePoint sites available on the server. By using context menu commands, you can add, remove, or change components in the SharePoint site if you have sufficient privileges. For more information, see Browsing SharePoint Connections Using Server Explorer.
Additional Components	Some component providers furnish additional components for Server Explorer. For more information, please consult their documentation. Additional components are not permitted in some editions of Visual Studio.

For Further Information on Windows NT Servers

For more information on system data from Windows NT servers available through Server Explorer, select Help from the Start menu and consult these Help topics:

• Administrative Tools

• Message Queuing Overview

Open the Windows NT Administrative Tools Control Panel and double-click its Event Viewer, Performance, and Services nodes to consult these help topics:

• Event Viewer Overview

• Performance Logs and Alerts Overview

• Services Overview

See Also

Tasks

How to: Add Items from Server Explorer

Reference

How to: Access and Initialize Server Explorer/Database Explorer