NAME

       tsql - utility to test FreeTDS connections and queries

SYNOPSIS

       tsql  { -S servername [-I interface] | -H hostname -p port }
             -U username [-P password] [-o options]

       tsql  -C

DESCRIPTION

       tsql  is  a diagnostic tool provided as part of FreeTDS. It uses the TDS protocol directly
       to connect to Sybase or Microsoft SQL Servers, and allows the user to issue  queries  that
       test the capabilities of FreeTDS.

       tsql  is  *not*  a  replacement  for  a complete isql, such as sqsh (www.sqsh.org).  It is
       designed to rely on the lowest  level  FreeTDS  library,  tdslib,  as  a  way  to  isolate
       potential bugs in the protocol implementation.

       tsql  can  be  run  in  two  ways,  one which uses the freetds.conf and one which connects
       directly using the server's hostname and port.

       When -S is used, FreeTDS uses the freetds.conf (or equivalent) and  environment  variables
       in the normal way to determine the server's ip address and port. You can use -I to specify
       a filename, overriding FreeTDS's configuration file search algorithm.

       The -H and -p parameters are provided especially for  troubleshooting  new  configurations
       (or  servers).  Use  of  these  parameters  causes  FreeTDS to ignore any freetds.conf and
       environment variables.

OPTIONS

       -S servername
              the Database Server to which to connect.

       -I interface
              a freetds.conf or interfaces file describing servername

       -H hostname
              the DNS hostname of the server

       -p port
              the port at which SQL Server is listening

       -U username
              database login name. If username is not provided, a domain login is  attempted  for
              TDS 7+ connections.

       -P password
              database password.

       -L list server "instances" (with -H)

       -C     prints some of the compile-time configuration parameters.

       -o options
              apply the options specified to every command.

              f      No footer       [result count]

              h      No header       [titles]

              t      Print time

              v      Print version

              q      Quiet

NOTES

       Typing "exit", "quit", or "bye" (or ^D) exits tsql.

       Typing "version" displays the TDS protocol version.

       Command  batches  may  be  separated  with  "go"  or  "GO". If "GO", the version string is
       reported before executing the batch.

       After prompting for the password, tsql will attempt to connect to the remote

       server.
              tsql displays a counter indicating the number of seconds that

       it is attempting to connect.
              Typically, tsql should immediately respond

       with a '1>' prompt.
              If you see the counter (1, 2, 3, ...), most likely tsql is unable to connect to the
              indicated server.

       If you can connect with "tsql -S servername", your basic FreeTDS installation is working.

       If  you  have  suggestions  for ways to make tsql more useful as a diagnostic tool, please
       recommend them to the FreeTDS mailing list for consideration.

HISTORY

       tsql first appeared in FreeTDS 0.60.

AUTHORS

       The tsql utility was written by Brian Bruns.

BUGS

       Several, to be sure, now that it's documented. :)