The sqlhosts information

The sqlhosts information contains connectivity information for each database server and definitions for groups. The database server looks up the connectivity information when you start the database server, when a client application connects to a database server, or when a database server connects to another database server.

Each computer that hosts a database server or a client must include connectivity information. The information is stored in an sqlhosts file on UNIX™ operating systems, or in an SQLHOSTS registry key on Windows™ operating systems.The connectivity information is stored in an sqlhosts file, except on Windows clients, where it is stored in an SQLHOSTS registry key.

In the sqlhosts file, each row contains the connectivity information for one database server, or the definition for one group.

  • The connectivity information for each database server includes four fields of required information and one field for options.
  • The group definition contains information in only three of the fields.

In the registry, the database server name is assigned to a key in the SQLHOSTS registry key, and the other fields are values of that key.

The following table summarizes the fields that are used for the SQLHOSTS information.
Field name in the sqlhosts file Field name in the SQLHOSTS registry key Description of connectivity information Description of group information
dbservername Database server name key or database server group key Database server name Database server group name
nettype PROTOCOL Connection type The keyword group
hostname HOST Host computer for the database server No information. Use a dash as a placeholder in this field.
servicename SERVICE Alias for the port number No information. Use a dash as a placeholder in this field.
options OPTIONS Options that describe or limit the connection Group options