How many ways you can connect to SQL Server ?

We can connect to the SQL Server Instance by adding different strings to the  server name in SSMS .

I have listed all the known possibilities below.

We can connect SQL Server using

1. Computer name ex: SQL

2. System IP ex: 169.254.31.8

3. Loopback IP 169.254.31.8

4. Localhost

5.  (Local)

6.  Just a dot (.)

7.  \\.\pipe\sql\query

8.  \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\MSSQLSERVER

9.  Computer Name with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)

10.  \\.\pipe\SQLLocal\MSSQLSERVER with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)

11.  (local) with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)

12.  just a dot (.) with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)

13.  \\.\pipe\sql\query with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)

14.  Localhost with prefix np: (to force to use named pipe protocol)

15.  Computer Name with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

16.  System IP with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol) – Connect TCP only without prefix also

17.  Localhost with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

18.  (Local) with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

19.  Just a dot (.) with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol)

20.  Loopback IP 169.254.31.8 with prefix tcp: (to force to use TCP protocol) – Connect TCP only without prefix also

21.  Specifying port no.