Where to install or use SQL Server?

Question

New to the database side of IT and I have a few questions...

I'm trying to figure out what servers and databases I can access through SSMS.

What is the best practice for installing/using SQL Server Management Studio? Should I install it on my laptop, then connect to servers remotely? Or install it on one of our SQL Servers and access with a remote desktop connection to that server from my laptop?

Also, do all servers have databases that can be accessed or do they have to be "SQL Servers"?

Thank you for replies in advance!

Answer 1

What is the best practice for installing/using SQL Server Management Studio?

I recommend installing SSMS on your laptop/desktop, and connecting to servers remotely. In general, I like to minimize the number of situations that require me to RDP into a server.

(That being said, I generally install SSMS on the server at the same time I install a SQL instance. But I don't use the server installation of SSMS except for emergencies.)

Do they have to be SQL Servers?

SSMS can connect to a variety of SQL products, including the Database Engine, Analysis Services, integration Services, Reporting Services, and Azure versions of SQL. But it can't connect directly to other database systems, like Oracle, DB2, or Access. You can, however, create Linked Servers within SQL that will allow a SQL instance to talk to non-SQL databases.