Toad for SQL Server is an integrated development environment (IDE) for accessing, managing, and using SQL Server database. Google Cloud Platform provides virtual machines (VMs) pre-configured to run SQL Server. The advantages of using Google Compute engine include a scalable, high-performance, distributed compute environment with predefined virtual machine types that support different CPU, memory and OS configurations. In three articles we shall discuss using Toad for SQL Server for connecting with SQL Server running on Windows Server based VM on Google Compute engine and use the database to create a database, create a table, add table data, and query the table. The articles have the following sections:

Setting the Environment

Creating a Google Cloud Platform Project

Creating a Windows Server Based Virtual Machine for SQL Server Database

Setting the Windows Password

Connecting to Windows Server with RDS

Installing Toad for SQL Server on Windows

Connecting to SQL Server Database with Toad for SQL Server

Choosing a Database

Opening and Arranging Toad for SQL Server Views

Creating a Database Table with New Table Wizard

Exploring Database Objects with Explorer

Adding Table Data with SQL Editor

Querying a Table

Dropping a Table

Disconnecting and Reconnecting

Using Multiple Connections

Dropping a Connection

Stopping and Deleting  a VM Instance

Closing the RDS Connection

Setting the Environment

Download and install the following Google Chrome extension for a remote desktop.

• Chrome RDP Extension

Create a Google Cloud Platform account and create a billing account at https://console.cloud.google.com/billing as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Billing Account

Creating a Google Cloud Platform Project

Open the Google Cloud Platform Console at https://console.cloud.google.com/start .  Click on Create an empty project as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Create an empty project

In New Project dialog specify a Project name (SQLServer) and click on Create as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. New Project dialog

In the Google Cloud Platform Getting Started page click on Select a project as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Select a project

The SQLServer project should be getting created. When the project gets created the project is shown with a check mark (shown in Figure 6).

Figure 5. Project created

Navigate to the projects page with URL https://console.cloud.google.com/cloud-resource-manager and the SQLServer project is listed, as shown in Figure 6. Click on the project link.

Figure 6. Project listed in Resources

The project detail gets displayed, as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7. Project Info

Creating a Windows Server Based Virtual Machine for SQL Server Database

In this section we shall create a Windows Server based virtual machine (VM) for SQL Server. Open URL https://cloud.google.com in a browser and click on the Compute section as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Selecting Compute

In Compute Products page click on View Compute Engine as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9. View Compute Engine

In Compute Engine click on View Console as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10. View Console

It may take a minute or more for the Compute Engine to get ready. On the VM instances page click on Create in the VM instances dialog as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11. VM instances>Create

The Create an instance wizard gets started, as shown in Figure 12. Specify an instance Name (sql-server-instance).

Figure 12. Create an instance Wizard

Click on Change forBoot disk as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13. Boot disk>Change

Select the Application images tab and select from one of the SQL Server application images as shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14. Selecting a SQL Server application image

In the Create an instance wizard the Boot disk gets set to the selected application image, as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15. Boot Disk Image selected

Keep the default settings for the other configuration. Click on Create. A VM instance gets created, as shown in Figure 16. The VM lists two IP addresses, an Internal IP and an External IP. We only need to make use of the External IP to access the VM externally from a local or cloud-based machine.

Figure 16. New VM Instance

Setting the Windows Password

To be able to access the VM instance from a local machine using Chrome RDP we need to set a Windows password. A Windows password may be set from two different  selections. On the VM instances listing click on the drop-down for Connect>RDP as shown in Figure 17 and select Set Windows password.

Figure 17. RDP>Set Windows password

The other option is to click on the VM instance link and in the VM instance details page click on Set Windows password in Remote access>RDP section. In Set new Windows password specify a Username or select the default one and click on SET as shown in Figure 18.

Figure 18. Set new Windows password

A New Windows password window displays a new password, as shown in Figure 19. Click on Copy to copy the password to the clipboard. Click on Close.

Figure 19. New Windows password

Connecting to Windows Server with Chrome RDS

In this section we shall connect to the Windows Server based VM from a local machine using Chrome RDS. Launch the Chrome RDP as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20. Chrome RDP

Next, copy the External IP for the VM instance as shown in Figure 21.

Figure 21. Obtaining the External IP

Copy and paste the External IP in the Chrome RDP console and click on Connect as shown in Figure 22.

Figure 22. Connecting to VM with Chrome RDP

In the Enter your credentials window, shown in Figure 23, specify Username and Password as configured in Setting the Windows Password section. Click on OK. The Username and Password would be different for different users.

Figure 23. Enter your credentials

The dialog "The server certificate returned for IP address:port cannot be verified. Do you want to connect anyway?" might get displayed. Click on Continue as shown in Figure 24.

Figure 24. The server certificate returned for IP address:port cannot be verified. Do you want to connect anyway?

The Chrome RDP gets connected to the Windows Server, as shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25. Chrome RDP connected to Windows Server

Select Local Server in Server Manager as shown in Figure 26.

Figure 26. Server Manager>Local Server

Scroll down for Services and search for MSSQLSERVER service, which should get listed, as shown in Figure 27.

Figure 27. MSSQLSERVER Service

Select Services in Control Panel>Administrative Tools and the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service is listed, as shown in Figure 28. Right-click on the service and select Properties.

Figure 28. Services>SQL Server>Properties

The service properties including the service name get displayed, as shown in Figure 29.

Figure 29. Service Properties

Summary

In this article we introduced using Toad for SQL Server with Google Cloud Platform and got started by creating a VM instance for SQL Server based on Windows server on Google Cloud Platform and connecting to the VM instance with Chrome RDS.  In subsequent articles we shall install Toad for SQL Server on the Windows Server and connect to the SQL Server instance running on the Windows server to explore the different features of Toad for SQL Server.

Not ready for a free trial? Learn more.

Use the links below to learn how you can use the Toad for SQL Server management tool to resolve issues, manage change and promote the highest levels of code quality, performance and scalability.

Product page: Toad for SQL Server

Tech brief: Solving the SQL Tuning Problem: Secrets of Quest SQL Optimizer

Case study: County enhances critical services for citizens with Toad®

Related blog posts:

Read more Toad World® blog posts on Toad for SQL Server.

Side note: ApexSQL adds to Quest SQL solutions

As an aside, since you’re managing SQL Server, did you know that ApexSQL is now a part of Quest? ApexSQL joined Quest this summer. We’re excited to nod our heads that yes, the ApexSQL portfolio enhances Quest’s already robust set of SQL Server management tools. Make sure to visit ApexSQL.

Got questions?

If you have any questions, please post questions to the Toad for SQL Server forum on Toad World.