Querying a linked sql server

Question

I added a linked server, which is showing in the linked server list, but when I query it, it throws an error with the db server name.

EXEC sp_helpserver
EXE         


        

Answer 1

I use open query to perform this task like so:

select top 1 *
INTO [DATABASE_TO_INSERT_INTO].[dbo].[TABLE_TO_SELECT_INTO]
from openquery(
    [LINKED_SERVER_NAME],
    'select * from [DATABASE_ON_LINKED_SERVER].[dbo].[TABLE_TO_SELECT_FROM]'
)

The example above uses open query to select data from a database on a linked server into a database of your choosing.

Note: For completeness of reference, you may perform a simple select like so:

select top 1 * from openquery(
    [LINKED_SERVER_NAME],
    'select * from [DATABASE_ON_LINKED_SERVER].[dbo].[TABLE_TO_SELECT_FROM]'
)