SQL Server Linked Server RPC Options?

Question

When setting up a linked server in SQL Server (we're on 2005), you can set two server options:

• Rpc
• Rpc Out

Looking at the MSDN article, all it states is:

RPC - Enables RPC from the specified server.

RPC Out - Enables RPC to the specified server.

My question is, why would I need to set these options? What can I do / not do by enabling Rpc on a linked server? Does setting these options to true have any drawbacks?

EDIT:

But to execute the remote stored procedure, you'd need the "RPC Out" setting enabled. When would you ever need the "RPC" setting enabled?

Solution 1

An example of an RPC in this context is a stored procedure. To link another server and run an sp on it you'll need to set the RPC Out option.

-Anders

Solution 2

I know this is an old question but it returns as one of the first links on a search. I am just adding to @chankster answer to give a bit more detail and when to use it. I don't have enough rep. to post it as a comment yet. Same answer I gave on https://dba.stackexchange.com/a/107042/70662. According to a msdn blog the RPC vs RPC Out on a SQL Server linked-server is this:

1. RPC - This setting is mainly for legacy feature called Remote Server. According to the blog it states you will not be using this in SQL Server 2005 and higher. Unless you get an error like:

18482 “Could not connect to server '%.*ls' because '%.*ls' is not defined as a remote server. Verify that you have specified the correct server name. %.*ls.”

2. RPC Out - setting is very pertinent to linked servers on SQL Server 2005 and higher. If this is not enabled you can get the following error message:

Msg 7411, Level 16, State 1, Line 1 Server 'myLinkedServer' is not configured for RPC.

Which really should say RPC Out should be enabled.

Comments

[Ryan Ferretti]

There are many times when you may want to execute a stored procedure on a remote server. If you needed to make a bunch of changes to a remote database as part of a load process, executing a remote stored procedure would be the best method.

[Aaron Daniels]

But to execute the remote stored procedure, you'd need the "RPC Out" setting enabled. When would you ever need the "RPC" setting enabled?

[chankster]

When the linked server is more like a partnership than a client/server relationship.