Adding New Servers in Server Explorer

Server Explorer displays links to servers beneath the Servers node. After a server connection is established, you can design programs to open the connection, browse the server, and retrieve and manipulate the data available.

To add a link to a server in Server Explorer

1. Select Connect to Server on the Tools menu, or click the Connect to Server icon in Server Explorer.

   The Add Server dialog box opens. For more information, see Add Server Dialog Box.

2. In the Computer text-box, enter the name or IP address of the server.

   The Servers node of the Server Explorer is not available in the Standard Edition of Visual Basic and Visual C# .NET. For more information, see Visual Basic Standard Edition Features.

To remove a link to a server from Server Explorer

1. In Server Explorer, expand the Servers node.

2. Right-click the server that is no longer needed.

3. Select Delete from the shortcut menu.

   There is no effect on the actual server. You are removing the link from your view.

To reconnect to a remote server as a different user

1. Delete any existing connections to the remote machine as the desired user.

   You cannot create multiple connections to a remote server as the same user of that computer. This includes NET USE connections.

2. Select Connect to Server from the Tools menu, or click the Connect to Server icon on the toolbar.

   The Add Server dialog box opens.

3. In the Computer text box, enter the name or IP address of the server.

4. Select Connect using a different user name.

   The Connect As dialog box opens.

5. Enter a new user name and password.

6. In the Computer text box, enter the name or IP address of the server.

To reconnect to a server on your local computer as a different user

1. Quit Visual Studio .NET and all other programs currently running on your computer.

   You must connect to a server located on your own computer as the current user of that computer.

2. On the Windows Start menu, select Shut Down.

   The Shut Down Windows dialog box appears.

3. Choose Log Off.

   The Log In dialog box appears.

4. Enter a new user name and password.

5. Open Visual Studio .NET, and select Connect to Server on the Tools menu or click the Connect to Server icon on the toolbar.

   The Add Server dialog box opens.

6. In the Computer text box, enter the name of the desired server on your computer.

See Also

Adding New Data Connections in Server Explorer | Displaying Data Sources in Server Explorer | Connecting to Remote Resources with Server Explorer | Database Connections and Database References | Adding Items from Server Explorer | Adding a Database Reference to a Database Project | Introduction to Data Access with ADO.NET | Recommendations for Data Access Strategies | Web Data Access Strategy Recommendations