How do you know what version of SQL Server you have?

To find out what version and service pack of SQL Server you are running, run this query:

SELECT @@VERSION

For example, I'm at home right now using an old laptop running Windows XP Home, and in the Services console I see only one SQL Server 2000 instance called MICROSOFTBCM.

I've never used BCM, but I know it stands for Business Contact Manager and it is part of Microsoft Office. Let's see what version of SQL Server it is, and what service pack is installed.

First, I open a command window and type:

c:> osql -S localhost\microsoftbcm -E

The response is:

[DBNETLIB]SQL Server does not exist or access denied.
[DBNETLIB]ConnectionOpen (Connect()).

I can see in the Services console that the MSSQL$MICROSOFTBCM service is Started, so I figure maybe TCP/IP connections are not enabled. In the command window, I type:

c:> svrnetcn

This brings up the SQL Server Network Utility. Sure enough, TCP/IP is in the list of Disabled Protocols. So I select it, click the Enable button, and click Apply. An alert tells me I need to restart the service in order for the change to take effect, so I switch over to the Services console and restart the service.

Now I try OSQL again, and this time I get connected. I type:

1> select @@version
2> go

The response is:

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 - 8.00.818 (Intel X86)
May 31 2003 16:08:15
Copyright (c) 1988-2003 Microsoft Corporation
Desktop Engine on Windows NT 5.1 (Build 2600: Service Pack 2)

So now I can tell I'm running MSDE with SP2.

I think I'll disable TCP/IP again, since I don't really need it. I don't use this app. In fact, I'm going to disable the service so it won't start any more when I reboot.