Kode's thoughts

You can do the following in order to add a linked server to another SQL Server Instance Step 1: Run the Add Linked Server Stored Procedure EXEC sp_addlinkedserver @server=N'Server1_Instance1', --Give a name to the linked server @srvproduct=N'', @provider=N'SQLNCLI', --Provider name for SQL Server @datasrc=N'Server1\Instance1'; Step 2: Add credentials to access the linked server If the linked server can be accessed via Windows Authentication this step is not required. But if you need to access is via SQL Server authentication you need to run the following procedure by replacing the text in bold appropriately. EXEC master.dbo.sp_addlinkedsrvlogin @rmtsrvname= N' Server1_Instance1 ',@useself=N'False',@locallogin=NULL,@rmtuser=N' user_id ',@rmtpassword=' password ' GO Step 3: Access the linked server You can access the linked server in the following format l inked_server.database_name.schema_name.table_...

I found the following two part article by Gail Shaw on Simple-Talk really helpful in trouble shooting poorly performing queries in Sql Server. The articles talks about spotting poorly performing queries with the help of the Profiler, understand Sql Server Query plans and fine tune the peformance using proper indexes. Part 1: http://tinyurl.com/ccl6gj Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/okcuqg