| title | Server Configuration: remote login timeout | |
|---|---|---|
| description | Learn about the remote login timeout option. See how it limits the number of seconds that SQL Server allots for connecting to a remote server. | |
| author | rwestMSFT | |
| ms.author | randolphwest | |
| ms.date | 08/26/2025 | |
| ms.service | sql | |
| ms.subservice | configuration | |
| ms.topic | how-to | |
| helpviewer_keywords |
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[!INCLUDE SQL Server]
This article describes how to configure the remote login timeout server configuration option in [!INCLUDE ssnoversion] by using [!INCLUDE ssManStudioFull] or [!INCLUDE tsql]. The remote login timeout option specifies the number of seconds to wait before returning from a failed attempt to log in to a remote server. For example, if you're trying to log in to a remote server and that server is down, remote login timeout helps make sure that you don't have to wait indefinitely before your computer stops trying to log in. The default value for this option is 10 seconds. A value of 0 allows for an infinite wait.
Note
The default value for this option is 20 seconds in [!INCLUDE sql2008-md].
The remote login timeout option affects connections to OLE DB providers made for heterogeneous queries.
Execute permissions on sp_configure with no parameters or with only the first parameter are granted to all users by default. To execute sp_configure with both parameters to change a configuration option or to run the RECONFIGURE statement, a user must be granted the ALTER SETTINGS server-level permission. The ALTER SETTINGS permission is implicitly held by the sysadmin and serveradmin fixed server roles.
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In Object Explorer, right-click a server and select Properties.
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Select the Advanced node.
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Under Network, select a value for the Remote Login Timeout box.
Use the remote login timeout option to specify the number of seconds to wait before returning from a failed remote login attempt.
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Connect to the [!INCLUDE ssDE].
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From the Standard bar, select New Query.
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Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute. This example shows how to use sp_configure to set the value of the
remote login timeoutoption to35seconds.USE master; GO EXECUTE sp_configure 'remote login timeout', 35; GO RECONFIGURE; GO
For more information, see Server configuration options.
The setting takes effect immediately without restarting the server.