Adding an ArcSDE database server

Note:This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

To administer an ArcSDE database server, you add a database server connection in the Catalog tree. This is a connection to a SQL Server Express instance set up to store geodatabases. Adding a database server creates a database server connection file and an icon in the Database Servers folder for that connection.

Once you are connected to a database server, you are able to administer the database server itself as well as add, remove, or administer the geodatabases on the database server.

In the Catalog tree, expand the Database Servers folder.

Double-click Add Database Server.

In the Add Database Server dialog box, provide the name of the ArcSDE database server. This will be in the form <server_name>\<instance_name>, where the server name is the name of the server on which SQL Server Express is installed and the instance name is the name of the SQL Server Express instance. For example, if a database server is named SOPHIE\SQLEXPRESS, SOPHIE is the server name and SQLEXPRESS is the instance.

Click OK.

The server icon will appear under Database Servers in the Catalog tree.

Tips

To add a database server, you must have permission to access the database server. See Adding and removing users or groups for ArcSDE database servers for details.

If you add the database server and the icon appears in the ArcCatalog tree with a blank white square on it, the database server has been added but its status is unknown. Try double-clicking it to connect. If you are unable to connect, contact the administrator of that database server to find out if the SQL Server Express instance is running and is connected to the network and what type of permission you have on that database server.

If you've added a new database server to ArcCatalog, the next step is to create or add geodatabases to it. See Creating a new geodatabase, Detaching and attaching a geodatabase on a database server, and Back up and restore geodatabases on an ArcSDE database server for information on different ways to populate your database server with geodatabases.

Adding an ArcSDE database server

Adding an ArcSDE database server

About adding a database server

How to add a database server

Tips

See Also