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Import registered server information (SQL Server Management Studio)

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Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

This article describes how to import saved registered server information in SQL Server. Exporting and then importing registered server files lets you easily configure several computers with the same servers in Registered Servers. This is useful when managing a large number of servers from computers in several locations, or when you want to configure basic connection settings for a less-experienced user.

Note

You can't import registered server information from earlier versions of SQL Server than the version you are currently using.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

  1. In Registered Servers, select the server type on the Registered Servers toolbar. The server type must be the same as the registered server export file type. For example, if you exported SQL Server registered server information, you must select SQL Server on the Registered Servers toolbar.

  2. Right-click a server group, and select Import.

  3. In the Import Registered Servers dialog box, select the registered servers file to import, and then select OK.

    1. Import file

      Type the name of the import file in the text box, or select the Browse button (...) to locate the import file on the client computer. If you select an existing file, the registered server information is appended to the file. The import file can only be a previously exported registered server file. Registered server files have a .regsrvr extension.

    2. Select the server group to import to

      Select the root node or a particular server group to which the registered server entries in the file will be imported. You can import all registered servers, registered servers in a particular server group, or a single registered server to the export file. The import functionality is recursive. For example, if server group A contains server group B, and server group B contains server groups C and D, importing server group A exports all entries in A, B, C, and D.

      The server group displays only the server groups of the current registered server tree.

      If you select to import an existing server group or server, a message confirms that you want to overwrite the existing server or server group.

Server registrations that use SQL Server Authentication store passwords on a per-user basis. After you import the server registrations, you must enter the password for each server the first time you connect, storing the passwords in your lists of registered servers. This isn't necessary for servers registered through Windows Authentication.

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