The following are instructions for setting up a connection to an Active Directory (AD) Domain secured SQL Server using either SQL Server Management Studio or Visual Studio. This is especially applicable when not using a domain attached PC.

Step-by-step guide

In order to successfully connect you need to start the application of choice in the necessary Active Directory Domain user context.

1. Right-click on your desktop and select New
   

2. Now paste in the appropriate command line as below into the ‘Type the location of the item:‘ field, replacing the ‘{username}‘ with your AD Domain username. (also change the path to a suitable location for you app or version etc..)
   For SQL Server Management Studio 17 (SSMS)

   RUNAS /user:{AD domain}\{your username} /netonly "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Tools\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"

   For Visual Studio 2017

   RUNAS /user:{AD domain}\{your username} /netonly "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe"

   

3. Click Next and give your new shortcut a suitable name. (e.g. ‘ssms – on domain’ or ‘vs2017 – on domain’)
4. When you double-click on your new desktop shortcut you will be prompted to enter your AD Domain password in a command window.
   

5. The app will now start in the correct context when connecting over the network. (Note: you may get some errors the first one or two times you start SSMS, but just close and try again.)

   NOTE: Incorrect password

   If you enter the wrong password the program will still start, but you will fail to connect. To see a failure run the same commend in the dedicated command window.

6. Now you can create a registered server as normal. Choose Windows Authentication.
   e.g.
   

For more information see:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runas
• http://codebetter.com/jameskovacs/2009/10/12/tip-how-to-run-programs-as-a-domain-user-from-a-non-domain-computer/

• Active Directory
• Security
• SQL
• SQL Server
• SQL Server 2008
• Visual Studio