ApsaraDB RDS:Use clients to establish connections

Known limitations

Before you connect, review this compatibility constraint:

• SSMS Object Explorer is not supported. Babelfish is not fully compatible with all SQL Server system tables. Connecting through Object Explorer triggers a Specified case is not valid error. Use File > New > Database Engine Query instead.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that you have:

• An RDS instance with Babelfish enabled. For more information, see Enable Babelfish for an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.

• A Babelfish account. For more information, see Manage Babelfish accounts.

• An IP address whitelist configured to allow your client host to access the RDS instance. For more information, see Configure an IP address whitelist for an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.

• The endpoint and TDS port of the RDS instance. For more information, see View the endpoints and TDS port.

Connect using TSQL (FreeTDS)

1. Install TSQL (FreeTDS). The following example uses CentOS 7.

   sudo yum install -y freetds

2. Connect to the RDS instance.

   tsql -S pgm-****.pg.rds.aliyuncs.com -p 1433 -U babelfish_user

   • -S: The endpoint of the RDS instance, for example, pgm-****.pg.rds.aliyuncs.com.

   • -p: The TDS port number, for example, 1433.

   • -U: The username of the Babelfish account, for example, babelfish_user.

3. Verify the connection by running a SQL query.

   SELECT name FROM sys.databases;
   GO

   For common SQL operations, see Common operations and compatibility description.

Connect using sqlcmd

1. Download and install sqlcmd. For more information, see Download and install sqlcmd in the Microsoft SQL Server documentation.

2. Connect to the RDS instance.

   sqlcmd -S pgm-****.pg.rds.aliyuncs.com,1433 -U babelfish_user

   • -S: The endpoint and TDS port in the format Endpoint,Port, for example, pgm-****.pg.rds.aliyuncs.com,1433.

   • -U: The username of the Babelfish account, for example, babelfish_user.

3. Verify the connection by running a SQL query.

   SELECT name FROM sys.databases;
   GO

   For common SQL operations, see Common operations and compatibility description.

Connect using SSMS

1. Download and install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). For more information, see Download SSMS in the Microsoft SQL Server documentation.

2. Open SSMS. In the menu bar, choose File > New > Database Engine Query.

   

3. Configure the connection parameters and click Connect.

   

   Parameter	Value	Description
   Server type	Database Engine	Fixed value.
   Server name	pgm-****.pg.rds.aliyuncs.com,1433	The endpoint and TDS port in the format Endpoint,Port.
   Authentication	SQL Server Authentication	Fixed value.
   Login	babelfish_user	The username of the Babelfish account.
   Password	babelfish_pwd	The password of the Babelfish account.

Connect using Azure Data Studio

1. Download and install Azure Data Studio. For more information, see Download and install Azure Data Studio in the Microsoft SQL Server documentation.

2. Open Azure Data Studio and click Create a connection.

   

3. Configure the connection parameters and click Connect.

   

   Parameter	Value	Description
   Connection type	Microsoft SQL Server	Fixed value.
   Server	pgm-****.pg.rds.aliyuncs.com,1433	The endpoint and TDS port in the format Endpoint,Port.
   Authentication type	SQL Login	Fixed value.
   User name	babelfish_user	The username of the Babelfish account.
   Password	babelfish_pwd	The password of the Babelfish account.
   Encrypt	Optional (False)	Fixed value.

FAQ

Why does SSMS show `Specified case is not valid. (Micosoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)` when I connect?

Babelfish is not fully compatible with all SQL Server system tables, so connecting through Object Explorer fails.

Use File > New > Database Engine Query instead to open the connection dialog directly.