Check for existence of server

Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular instance
of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for connection --
if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings (server name and
database name). But the connection check is made by calling for a scalar
value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate the error messages:

1. No server installed
2. Specified database name not installed
3. Specfied table or sproc not available

Any thoughts?

Earl
1) if not exists (select * from sysservers where svrname ='blblb')
print 'Server does not exist'

2) if not exists (select * from sysdatabases where name ='blblb')
print Database does not exist'

3) if object_id('test') is null
print 'An object does not exist'

"Earl" <brikshoe@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:%23obJi4vLHHA.1008@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular
> instance of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for
> connection -- if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings
> (server name and database name). But the connection check is made by
> calling for a scalar value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate
> the error messages:
>
> 1. No server installed
> 2. Specified database name not installed
> 3. Specfied table or sproc not available
>
> Any thoughts?
>

Sure as shown on page 565, you can use the dbProviderFactories.GetFactory
method to return a list of (visible) servers based on a specific provider.
These same classes can be used to start, stop or pause the server service as
well (in addition to others).

hth

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"Earl" <brikshoe@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:%23obJi4vLHHA.1008@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Is there any sort of check that can be done to see if a particular
> instance of SQL Server is present? I already call a method to check for
> connection -- if no connection, I have the user re-enter server settings
> (server name and database name). But the connection check is made by
> calling for a scalar value in the database. What I'd rather do is graduate
> the error messages:
>
> 1. No server installed
> 2. Specified database name not installed
> 3. Specfied table or sproc not available
>
> Any thoughts?
>