Check UDL SQL Server Connectivity Without Management Studio

The whole magic revolves around a simple trick we do UDL(Universal Data Link) test to check connectivity from a Windows server to a SQL server instance and this is not specific to any version of SQL server.

 Steps to Follow
Creating UDL file

1. Create a new text file by right clicking on desktop point to New in the popup and then click Text Document. (New Text Document.txt).
2. If file extension is not being shown then open windows explorer, and on the Tools menu click Folder Options. On the View tab, clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box and then click OK.
3. Now just Rename that file and then change the name and extension of the file to: xyz.udl
4. A warning might appear just click YES.
5. Simply open (xyz.udl) file This opens the Data Link Properties dialog box. You are now ready to connect to your data source.

SQL server Connectivity Test

1. Select the Provider tab.
2. In list of OLE DB Providers select Microsoft OLE DB for SQL Server.
3. Select Connection tab.
4. Enter the SQL server’s Host name in the first box. E.g. TOXIC-PC\SQL2008R2
5. Under Enter information to log on to the server’ select one of the radio buttons...
1. Use Windows NT Integrated security if the SQL server uses Windows authentication 
2. User a specific user name and password if the SQL server uses SQL authentication.
6. Select the database on the server click on the drop down list to view the databases that are available.
7. Select the required database and click the Test Connection button, a messages appears Test connection succeeded.
8. If you want to save the password click OK to close the Data Link Properties window and save the connection settings with unencrypted password.