Automate SQL Server Client-Network Configuration

The Client network configuration for SQL Server can be
found in the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\.
For this example I will create policy entries for the network library, the
"AutoANSIToOEM" option and the "Use international settings" option.

The Policy Template file (a normal text file) starts by specifying the relevant Section
in the Registry. As these settings are machine related, the Class will be
Machine:

For this class we create a new category called SQL Server.
The exact string is specified a bit further down in the file (in the [strings]
section). 

To be open for further amendments I include another
subcategory call DBLibrary.

Now the Policies can be defined. The first policy will
allow you to select a network library. 

The keyname specifies where the values are stored in the
registry.

The value for the network library will be stored under
DSQUERY. The default value is Windows Sockets.

For this value a dropdown list is created. The entries
define all possible Network libraries that exist. Just delete the entries you do
not intend to use.

So that is the end of the first policy. In policy editor (POLEDIT.EXE)
it will now look like this:

The following lines show, how the settings for
AutoAnsiToOEM setting and  the "Use international settings" can
be set.

These lines define the values for checkboxes. For SQL
Server the values ON and OFF are used.

The last thing missing is the strings
section. Here all the strings used in the policy file are defined. 

Then you can start Policy Editor and open the Template (Options,
Template).

Once this is done, a Policy file can be created or modified.

Here you can either define the settings for all computers
in your network or create entries for the computers that run SQL Server Client
Software. 

Unfortunately there is no option to group computers. The
fastest way to specify the same settings to a group of computers is to add them
one by one. Then change the settings of one of the computers, use the Copy
command to copy your changes to the clipboard. Now you can select all the
computers to which you want to apply the settings and then paste the information.

Save the file as NTCONFIG.POL in your NETLOGON share. (Remember
to save the file under SYSTEM32\REPL\EXPORT\SCRIPTS if you use replication).

The next time a user logs on the NTCONFIG.POL file will be
parsed and the registry will be modified.

To quick check whether your Policy Template works, open
your local registry with POLEDIT, change the entries and check the effect either
with the SQL Server Client Network utility or with REGEDIT.