Database guides

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Updated 2026-08-11 · 2 min read

Near-full SQL Server as a managed service, with an instance-wide catalog. AddisDB connects with its SQL Server driver over TDS.

Azure SQL Managed Instance is SQL Server delivered as a managed service with almost the full on-premises surface intact — cross-database queries, SQL Agent, linked servers and an instance-wide sys.databases. It speaks TDS, so AddisDB connects with its SQL Server driver.

Who it is for

Managed Instance is the landing place for a lift-and-shift from on-premises SQL Server. Where Azure SQL Database gives you one logical database and asks you to adapt, Managed Instance keeps the instance-level features most existing applications assume.

The detail worth knowing is the port. Inside the virtual network, Managed Instance listens on 1433 as usual. The optional public endpoint listens on 3342 instead. Which one you use decides both the host and the port you enter.

Set up the instance

  1. In the Azure portal open the managed instance and copy the host — it looks like myinstance.abc123.database.windows.net.
  2. Decide how you are reaching it. From inside the VNet or over VPN, use port 1433. Through the public endpoint, use 3342 and the .public. form of the hostname.
  3. If you are using the public endpoint, confirm it is enabled and that the network security group allows inbound 3342.
  4. Note the instance admin login and password.
# Public endpoint: note the .public. host and port 3342
sqlcmd -S myinstance.public.abc123.database.windows.net,3342 -U sqladmin -P PASSWORD -Q "SELECT @@VERSION"

Connect from AddisDB

  1. New Connection → Azure SQL Managed Instance. Port prefills to 1433.
  2. Enter the host. Change the port to 3342 if you are using the public endpoint.
  3. Enter the admin login and password, and master as the database unless you want to land somewhere specific.
  4. Set SSL mode to require — Managed Instance enforces encryption.
  5. Test, then Save.

What AddisDB gives you

The SQL Server toolset: schema tree, structured create and alter table, database-user management and mock data.

The Live Monitor is real, reading the dynamic management views for live requests, sessions and table sizes.

Because Managed Instance has a genuine instance-wide sys.databases, adding every database on the host works here — a real difference from Azure SQL Database, where that affordance is hidden.