Connect SQL Server Management Studio to PostgreSQL

You can use a linked server in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to connect to PostgreSQL. Linked servers enable you to implement distributed databases and retrieve or modify data in other databases and cloud service providers. This approach facilitates integration with heterogeneous data sources, providing a unified method for accessing and managing disparate data sets from any origin. By creating linked servers for each data source, you can perform distributed queries and transactions directly within SSMS, regardless of where your data resides.

Prerequisites

  • The driver and SQL Server must be installed on the same computer.
  • A system DSN must be created for your data source. For instructions, see Configure a Windows DSN for PostgreSQL.
  • The driver, DSN, and SQL Server must be of the same bitness. For example, if you’re using a 64-bit SQL Server, install the 64-bit version of the driver and configure a 64-bit DSN.

Create a linked server

1. In SSMS, connect to your SQL Server instance.

2. In Object Explorer, select Server Objects > Linked Servers > Providers.

3. Double-click MSDASQL, then select Allow inprocess.

4. Click OK.

The Provider Options dialog for Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers

5. Right-click Linked Servers, then select New Linked Server.

The Object Explorer pane with expanded Server Objects

6. In the New Linked Server dialog, fill out the fields with the connection details:

  • Linked server – Enter a name for the linked server.
  • Server type – Select Other data source.
  • Provider – Select Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers.
  • Product Name (optional) – Enter Devart ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL to remember what you used to set up the connection.
  • Data source – Enter the name of your DSN.

Tip

You can enter the driver connection string in Provider string instead of specifying the Product Name and Data source.

The New Linked Server dialog with fields filled in

7. Click OK.

A new linked server appears under Linked Servers.

The added linked server in the Object Explorer pane

Retrieve data from PostgreSQL

1. On the toolbar, click New Query.

2. Enter a SQL query in the following format:

SELECT * FROM [<linked_server_name>].[<database_name>].[<schema_name>].[<table_name>];

where [<linked_server_name>] and [<table_name>] are required, and [<database_name>] and [<schema_name>] are optional.

3. Click Execute.

The results are displayed under the query text editor.

The executed query result