SQL Server 2005: how to add a linked server
A linked server is a virtual server that has been defined to SQL Server 2005 with all the information required to access an OLE DB data source. A linked server name is defined by using the sp_addlinkedserver system stored procedure.
EXEC sp_addlinkedserver
@server=’SERVER_NAME’
@srvproduct=’’
@provider=’SQLNCLI’
@datasrc=’SERVER_NAME’
Local SQL Server logins are mapped to logins in the linked server by using sp_addlinkedsrvlogin.
The SQL Script below connects a specific login to the linked server by using different user credentials
EXEC sp_addlinkedsrvlogin 'REMOTE_SERVER_NAME', 'false', 'LOCAL USERID', 'REMOTE USERID', 'REMOTE PASSWORD'
The sp_serveroption system stored procedure is used to set server options for remote servers and linked servers. The SQL script below enables a linked server for distributed query access, which can be used only for sys.server entries added through sp_addlinkedserver.
EXEC sp_serveroption ‘REMOTE_SERVER_NAME’, ‘data access’, ‘true’
sp_linkedservers
-- Returns the list of linked servers defined in the local server.
Reference:
1. SQL SERVER 2005 BOOKS ONLINE