DAC connection port SQL Server 2005 SP3

Question

We have a named instance of SQL Server 2005 SP3 on an active/active cluster. We find that the Dedicated Admin connection (DAC) is not on one consistent port, the port changes whenever we reboot. We want it to be on a consisten port for monitoring. Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this, thanks.

Answer 1

This is an excerpt from MSDN:

SQL Server listens for the DAC on TCP port 1434 if available or a TCP port dynamically assigned upon Database Engine startup. The error log contains the port number the DAC is listening on. By default the DAC listener accepts connection on only the local port. For a code sample that activates remote administration connections, see remote admin connections Option.

You will need to review the error log for the port number.

Answer 2

Your monitoring should be using the named instance not the port number as you will not know which instance you are monitoring on that particular port.