Get-DbaLinkedServer

Synopsis

Retrieves linked server configurations and connection details from SQL Server instances.

Description

Pulls complete linked server information from one or more SQL Server instances, including remote server names, authentication methods, and security settings. This helps DBAs audit cross-server connections for compliance reporting, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and document distributed database architectures. Returns details about the remote server, product type, impersonation settings, and login mappings for each configured linked server.

Syntax

Get-DbaLinkedServer
    [-SqlInstance] <DbaInstanceParameter[]>
    [[-SqlCredential] <PSCredential>]
    [[-LinkedServer] <Object[]>]
    [[-ExcludeLinkedServer] <Object[]>]
    [-EnableException]
    [<CommonParameters>]

Examples

Example: 1

PS C:\> Get-DbaLinkedServer -SqlInstance DEV01

Returns all linked servers for the SQL Server instance DEV01

Example: 2

PS C:\> Get-DbaRegServer -SqlInstance DEV01 -Group SQLDEV | Get-DbaLinkedServer | Out-GridView

Returns all linked servers for a group of servers from SQL Server Central Management Server (CMS). Send output to GridView.

Required Parameters

-SqlInstance

The target SQL Server instance or instances. This can be a collection and receive pipeline input to allow the function
to be executed against multiple SQL Server instances.

Optional Parameters

-SqlCredential

Login to the target instance using alternative credentials. Accepts PowerShell credentials (Get-Credential).
Windows Authentication, SQL Server Authentication, Active Directory - Password, and Active Directory - Integrated are all supported.
For MFA support, please use Connect-DbaInstance.

-LinkedServer

Specifies one or more linked server names to retrieve information for. Accepts an array of server names for filtering results.
Use this when you need details on specific linked servers instead of all configured linked servers on the instance.

-ExcludeLinkedServer

Specifies one or more linked server names to exclude from the results. Accepts an array of server names to filter out.
Use this when you want to skip specific linked servers, such as excluding test or deprecated connections from your inventory.

-EnableException

By default, when something goes wrong we try to catch it, interpret it and give you a friendly warning message.
This avoids overwhelming you with “sea of red” exceptions, but is inconvenient because it basically disables advanced scripting.
Using this switch turns this “nice by default” feature off and enables you to catch exceptions with your own try/catch.