Asking for a Server Name.. Help Clarify Please

[Anonymous]

Hey guys - I've noticed that when I ask clients for their server name, they'd just give me the name with a backslash and other text. There's rarely a ".com" at the end. Whenever I do the have ".com" of the server name, I'm able to connect to the SQL Server..

When it's just as is, just the server name.. I cannot connect? How do I find the full "URL" so to speak of the Server for me to connect to. I've gone as far as trying to use CMD prompt "ipconfig" and still can't find the full URL. Please let me know.

Thank you!

[pborah · Accepted solution]

SQL servers don't generally have a ".com" unless I'm horribly wrong.  There's either an ip address with server credentials or just the name of the server if you're in an internal network and are already signed in to Power BI with your organizational account. Are you choosing "SQL Server database" under "Get Data"?

[Anonymous]

Hmm.. that's odd. Yes I am using the Get Data to SQL server on PBI desktop. The IT Admin gave me the username and password to the database (credntials).. its says it's not able to connect. 

[pborah]

Can you post a screenshot of the connection you are trying to make?

[Anonymous]

This is where I'm trying to establish a connecting. I was given a Server name that was just a couple of stringers and numbers.

[pborah]

No I meant can you post a screenshot with servername, error, etc. when you're trying to connect? Do you know if the SQL server is sitting behind a VPN? Do you need to be logged in to the organization's VPN to be able to connect?