title: How to ping/test connection to SQL Server without software (like through cmd)?
body: <p>Is there a way to test a connection to a SQL Server through the command line or without any extra software? I've tried the ping and telnet methods shown in <a href="https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/4828/verify-connectivity-to-sql-server/" rel="noreferrer">this</a> article, but they both fail to find my SQL Server. Note that the connection is fine, I can connect to the server through SSMS, but it would be useful to be able to troubleshoot the connection otherwise.</p>
  
  <p>For example, we have people working from home and I want to be able to test the connection to the database server without having to install SSMS on their machine.</p>
  
  <p>The server name looks like: <code>SERVER\SQLEXPRESS</code></p>
  
  <p>And I tried <code>ping SERVER\SQLEXPRESS</code> (Ping request could not find host) and <code>telnet SERVER 1433</code> (Could not open connection to the host, on port 1433)</p>
  
  <p>EDIT: I can ping the server just fine <code>ping SERVER</code></p>
  
  <p>EDIT2: Everything I have tried I test with both the name and the ip. The DNS is fine so it shouldn't cause an issue to use one or the other</p>