Choose OLE DB or ODBC for SQL Server by the component you run, especially SSIS, linked servers, and applications using current drivers.
Finding the Client IP Address of a Connection
Find the client IP address of a SQL Server connection with DMVs and CONNECTIONPROPERTY, and understand proxy and local transport limits.
Named Instances and Default Instances
Named instances and default instances differ in connection strings, ports, SQL Browser discovery, and the operations each one needs.
Grouping Current Connections by Program Name and Host Name
Group connections by program name, host, and login, then inspect client addresses and idle sessions without trusting client labels blindly.
Which SQL Server Client Driver to Use Now
Choose a SQL Server client driver by application stack: ODBC, current OLE DB, Microsoft.Data.SqlClient, or JDBC, then test security defaults.