Test Live Connect ODBC driver connection

task australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read test-sql-api-odbc-driver-connection-using-interactive-sql.md

Use Interactive SQL to verify that the ODBC driver connects to your ServiceNow instance and returns query results.

Before you begin

The ODBC driver is configured on your client machine. See Configure ServiceNow Live Connect ODBC driver on a client machine.

Role required: admin

Procedure

From the Start menu, select and hold (or right-click) Interactive SQL (ODBC), then select Run as administrator.
Connect to your ServiceNow instance by entering the following command:
- Basic authentication:
  Text
```
connect "username"*"password"@"dsn_name"
```
  Example:
  Text
```
connect "odbc.user"*"TestSQLAPI"@"servicenow"
```
- OAuth authentication: OAuth credentials are handled automatically through your DSN configuration. Use connect @"dsn_name". Replace username, password, and dsn_name with your respective credentials. DSN is configured in Configure ServiceNow Live Connect ODBC driver on a client machine.
A confirmation message appears if the connection is successful.
Verify the connection returns data by entering a SELECT query.

Example:
Text
```
SELECT NUMBER, short_description FROM incident;
```
Include the semicolon at the end of the query. Without it, a Cont> prompt appears.

[Omitted image "SampleSQLQuery.png"] Alt text: Sample SQL Query.

The query results appear, displaying incident numbers and descriptions from your instance.

Result

The ODBC driver connection is verified. You can use the driver with BI tools and data analysis platforms to query your ServiceNow data.

Parent Topic:Configuring Live Connect

Keywords ODBC driverInteractive SQLiSQLtest connectionLive Connect

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---
title: Test Live Connect ODBC driver connection
description: Use Interactive SQL to verify that the ODBC driver connects to your ServiceNow instance and returns query results.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/api-reference/web-services/test-sql-api-odbc-driver-connection-using-interactive-sql.html
release: australia
product: Web Services
classification: web-services
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
keywords: [ODBC driver, Interactive SQL, iSQL, test connection, Live Connect]
breadcrumb: [Configure, Access your ServiceNow data using Live Connect, Additional integration resources, Web services, API implementation, API implementation and reference]
---

# Test Live Connect ODBC driver connection

Use Interactive SQL to verify that the ODBC driver connects to your ServiceNow instance and returns query results.

## Before you begin

The ODBC driver is configured on your client machine. See [Configure ServiceNow Live Connect ODBC driver on a client machine](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/configure-odbc-driver.md).

Role required: admin

## Procedure

1.  From the Start menu, select and hold \(or right-click\) Interactive SQL \(ODBC\), then select **Run as administrator**.

2.  Connect to your ServiceNow instance by entering the following command:

    -   Basic authentication:

        ```
        connect "username"*"password"@"dsn_name"
        ```

        Example:

        ```
        connect "odbc.user"*"TestSQLAPI"@"servicenow"
        ```

    -   OAuth authentication: OAuth credentials are handled automatically through your DSN configuration. Use `connect @"dsn_name"`.
    Replace `username`, `password`, and `dsn_name` with your respective credentials. DSN is configured in [Configure ServiceNow Live Connect ODBC driver on a client machine](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/configure-odbc-driver.md).

    A confirmation message appears if the connection is successful.

3.  Verify the connection returns data by entering a SELECT query.

    Example:

    ```
    SELECT NUMBER, short_description FROM incident;
    ```

    Include the semicolon at the end of the query. Without it, a `Cont>` prompt appears.

    \[Omitted image "SampleSQLQuery.png"\] Alt text: Sample SQL Query.

    The query results appear, displaying incident numbers and descriptions from your instance.


## Result

The ODBC driver connection is verified. You can use the driver with BI tools and data analysis platforms to query your ServiceNow data.

**Parent Topic:**[Configuring Live Connect](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/configuring-sql-api.md)