Create SQL Server aliases using registry editor

Another quick one today: how do I create an alias using the registry editor? If you want to want to ask me why would you do such a thing, it means you’re reading the wrong blogJ.

To cut it short, here are the entries in the registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\ConnectTo] – this is for x64 machines who happen to need a 32-bit alias.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\ConnectTo] – this is for either x86 machines, or for x64 machines that need a regular alias.

Ok, as for how I actually use it:

Fire up Notepad, make your edits, then save it as <whatevername>.reg. Double click the file and confirm that you want the entries in your registry. You now have a script ready to be deployed across multiple servers.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,
io