Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) databases come with every Domain India Windows hosting plan, and you create and manage them in Plesk. This guide covers creating a database and its user, finding the connection details, connecting from ASP.NET, and moving data in and out.
In Plesk, open Databases, click Add Database, choose the Microsoft SQL Server, and create a database user with a strong password. Plesk shows the server name to use in your connection string. Connect from code running on your hosting: port 1433 is closed from outside, so a connection from your own PC will not reach the server. For connection string syntax, see what to use for the MSSQL connection string.
1. How many databases your plan includes
| Plan | MSSQL databases |
|---|---|
| ASP Starter | 1 |
| ASP Business | 5 |
| ASP Enterprise | 50 |
Database size counts towards your plan's storage. The SQL Server version and edition are shown in Plesk when you create the database; check there rather than relying on an old guide.
2. Create a database and user
- Open Databases.Log in to Plesk (client area, Hosting › My hosting, then the Plesk button) and click Databases for your domain.
- Add a database.Click Add Database and type a name. Plesk may add a prefix; the full name it shows is the one your code must use.
- Pick the server.Choose the Microsoft SQL Server entry in the database server list, not MySQL.
- Create the user.Enter a database username and a long, unique password. Keep them for your connection string.
- Save.Click OK. The database and user are ready.
To add another user or change a password later, open the database in Plesk and use its User Management or users section. If an option has a different label on your screen, ask support.
3. Find your connection details
Open the database in Plesk and look for Connection Info. It shows the four values every connection string needs:
| Value | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Database server (host or instance) | Data Source or Server |
| Database name, with any prefix | Initial Catalog or Database |
| Database username | User ID |
| Database user password | Password |
Use exactly what Plesk shows for the server. Depending on the instance, it may be localhost or a name with a backslash, such as .\INSTANCENAME.
4. Connect from ASP.NET
A typical web.config entry for ASP.NET Framework sites:
<connectionStrings>
<add name="DefaultConnection"
connectionString="Data Source=SERVER_FROM_PLESK;Initial Catalog=YourDatabase;User ID=YourUser;Password=YourPassword"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
</connectionStrings>For ASP.NET Core, put it in appsettings.json:
{
"ConnectionStrings": {
"DefaultConnection": "Server=SERVER_FROM_PLESK;Database=YourDatabase;User Id=YourUser;Password=YourPassword;TrustServerCertificate=True"
}
}Newer versions of Microsoft.Data.SqlClient encrypt the connection by default and check the server certificate. If you get a certificate error when connecting on the same server, add TrustServerCertificate=True, as above. Full syntax and older variants are in what to use for the MSSQL connection string.
Keep the connection string in web.config or appsettings.json, never in a page, script or static file that visitors can download, and never commit it to a public Git repository. On ASP.NET Core, keep settings files out of the wwwroot folder. If a password was ever exposed, change it in Plesk.
5. Remote access and SQL Server Management Studio
We tested the Windows servers from outside on 23 September 2026: port 1433, the standard SQL Server port, is closed. SQL Server Management Studio on your own PC will not connect directly. Your website code, running on the same server, connects without any problem.
Use Plesk's database tools, including import and export, for day-to-day work. If your project needs a direct remote connection, open a ticket and tell us what you need to do, before you plan around it.
6. Import and export data
- Import. Open the database in Plesk and use Import Dump to upload a backup or script file. Large imports can take a while; don't close the page.
- Export. Use Export Dump to download a copy of the database. Take one before any big change to your site.
- Moving from another host. Export a backup from the old server, then import it here. If the file is very large or in a format Plesk refuses, ask support.
7. Troubleshooting
| Error | Most likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| Login failed for user | Wrong username or password, or the user belongs to another database |
| Cannot open database | The database name is missing its Plesk prefix |
| Server not found or not accessible | Wrong server name; copy it from Connection Info |
| Certificate chain not trusted | Add TrustServerCertificate=True to the connection string |
| Works on the server, not from my PC | Port 1433 is closed from outside; see section 5 |
If a connection still fails, open a ticket with the exact error message and the database name (never the password).
8. Where Domain India Windows hosting fits
Choose Windows hosting when your site is built on ASP.NET or needs SQL Server. ASP Starter includes one MSSQL database for a single site; ASP Business has five, for a site with separate databases or a few sites.
- 10 GB Storage
- 50 GB Monthly Bandwidth
- 1 Website
- 10 Email Accounts
- 30 GB Storage
- 150 GB Monthly Bandwidth
- 5 Websites
- 50 Email Accounts
For a wider tour of Plesk and IIS, read the Windows hosting guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create an MSSQL database in Plesk?
Log in to Plesk, open Databases, click Add Database, choose the Microsoft SQL Server, enter a database name and create a database user with a password, then click OK.
What server name do I use in my connection string?
Use the database server that Plesk shows under Connection Info for your database. Depending on the instance it may be localhost or a name with a backslash.
Can I connect to my MSSQL database from my own computer?
Not directly. Port 1433 is closed from outside on Domain India Windows hosting servers, so SQL Server Management Studio on your PC will not connect. Use Plesk's tools, or ask support if you need remote access.
How many MSSQL databases do I get?
ASP Starter includes 1 MSSQL database, ASP Business 5 and ASP Enterprise 50.
Why do I get a certificate error when connecting?
Newer SqlClient libraries encrypt connections and verify the server certificate by default. Add TrustServerCertificate=True to the connection string when connecting on the same server.
How do I back up an MSSQL database in Plesk?
Open the database in Plesk and use Export Dump to download a copy. Take one before any major change to your site.
Ready to put your ASP.NET site online? Compare Windows hosting plans, read what to use for the MSSQL connection string, or open a ticket if your database won't connect.
Send us the database name and the exact error message, never the password, and our team will check it on the server.
Open a support ticket