Creating an Alias in Microsoft SQL Server

Some applications do not have the ability to connect to a named instance. By creating an alias, it will allow the client application to connect without having to use the default instance.

Other times, when a database is moved to a new or different database server, an alias is a quick and easy way to get the client application reconnected to its database. An alias can also be used to create a connection to the database server using specific protocol (e.g. TCP, Named Pipes, etc.) and specific parameters (e.g. TCP Port, Pipe Name, etc.).

Lastly, an alias can also assist so that the SQL Server instance does not have to be reinstalled for client connectivity to work.

This document provides the procedure for creating an alias in SQL Server using the SQL Server Configuration Manager.