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I think you can point the CNAME to the specific IP address of the instance, <i>but I am not a networking person and do not claim any addressing expertise</i>.
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@Scott: The problem is that you can have more than one SQL Server instance on an IP address. The question is how to solve that issue with a CNAME.
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@Vitor:<br />
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Interesting. &nbsp;Maybe it's just the port that has to be different. &nbsp;As I said, I'm not an expert in that area.<br />
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I know at one place they assigned unique addresses, but that was probably just their preference.
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That was my understanding:<br />
<i>&quot;(...)is there a way for me to create a CNAME or even a HOST entry and <u>point it to a specific instance within a SQL server</u>?&quot;</i>
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DNS (CNAME, A, AAAA etc.) is a translatoin service for humans to translate a host/domain name into an IP address.<br />
IP connections only can be done on Ipaddres/port pairs, something that is hard for humans to handle in large amounts.<br />
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As there is NO connections between DNS and database content a change of CNAME will not help.<br />
(For webservers it is slightly different, as a webserver is told the name afterward inside the query, something that not a lot of protocols do regularly).
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I am working with a database admin. She needs me to create a CNAME on our DNS server that points to a specific &quot;instance&quot; on a SQL server. I created a basic CNAME and pointed it at the server where SQL is installed but it right now she sees it as pointing to the default instance. I am not a SQL person, but is there a way for me to create a CNAME or even a HOST entry and point it to a specific instance within a SQL server? Not just the server itself? We are using Windows 2012 and SQL 2012.
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I am working with a database admin. She needs me to create a CNAME on our DNS server that points to a specific "instance" on a SQL server. I created a basic CNAME and pointed it at the server where SQL is installed but it right now she sees it as pointing to the default instance. I am not a SQL person, but is there a way for me to create a CNAME or even a HOST entry and point it to a specific instance within a SQL server? Not just the server itself? We are using Windows 2012 and SQL 2012.

Can I point a CNAME at a specific instance within a SQL server? Not just the server itself

Databases are organized collections of data, most commonly accessed through management systems including schemas, tables, queries and processes that allow users to enter and manipulate the information or utilize it in other fashions, such as with web applications or for reporting purposes.

Databases

Microsoft SQL Server is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.SQL Server is available in multiple versions, typically identified by release year, and versions are subdivided into editions to distinguish between product functionality. Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning.

Microsoft SQL Server

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical, globally distributed system responsible for associating the name of a computer, service or other resource into an IP address for connecting to the Internet or a private network. Most prominently, it translates domain names to the numerical IP addresses needed for the purpose of computer services and devices worldwide.

SQL (Structured Query Language) is designed to be used in conjunction with relational database products as of a means of working with sets of data. SQL consists of data definition, data manipulation, and procedural elements. Its scope includes data insert, query, update and delete, schema creation and modification, and data access control.