Database Instance Connection Details

Object compare attempts to connect to the database instance in the following order:

1. Tries to connect using registered server authentication
2. If 1 is unsuccessful then, tries to connect using windows authentication 
3. If 2 is unsuccessful then, a login dialog will appear to allow user to enter authentication details

It should be noted that the User authentication dialog will not apear when running a comparison as a console application.  If the instance cannot be connected to via registered server or windows authentication then no comparison will be completed.

To compare two Instances using Registered Server authentication (where the instance password is stored in the registered server) OR Windows Authentication:

• Open Object Compare, and select File -> Select Left Side from the main menu.
• In the Select Left Side dialog, expand the Desktop -> My Computer -> SQL Server 2005 objects.
• A list of Registered servers and server groups are listed under the SQL Server 2005 object. See the section How to: Add SQL Server Instances for adding instances to the list. 
• Locate the SQL Server object of interest by navigating through a connection object and select the OK button.
• On the main menu, select File -> Select Right Side.
• Repeat the steps for locating a SQL Server object outlined above using the Select Right Side dialog.
• To start the comparison, select File -> Start Comparison from the main menu.

To compare two Instances using User authentication

• Open Object Compare, and select File -> Select Left Side from the main menu.
• In the Select Left Side dialog, expand the Desktop -> My Computer -> SQL Server 2005 objects.
• Enter the Login details in the popup dialog (if credentials are incorrect an error node will be added to the comparison tree)
• A list of Registered servers and server groups are listed under the SQL Server 2005 object. See the section How to: Add SQL Server Instances for adding instances to the list. 
• Locate the SQL Server object of interest by navigating through a connection object and select the OK button.
• On the main menu, select File -> Select Right Side.
• Repeat the steps for locating a SQL Server object outlined above using the Select Right Side dialog.
• To start the comparison, select File -> Start Comparison from the main menu.