How can I query a remote server using a local function? I am querying a remote server for which I only have read permissions. I set up a local server with a UDF (since I cannot create one on the remote) that I would like to utilize for the query. When I try executing the query, I receive the error 


  Msg 344, Level 16, State 1Remote function reference 'localhost\SQLDEV.db.dbo.udf_StripHTML' is not allowed, and the column name 'localhost\SQLDEV' could not be found or is ambiguous.


I tried looking for solutions, but nothing seemed remotely (haha) close to my situation as all other solutions were for executing a remote function against a local query, or trying to pass variables with OPENQUERY, etc. Is there a simple way to achieve this query with only read access to the remote, master db?

SELECT [localhost\SQLDEV].[db].[dbo].[udf_StripHTML](notes.note_text)
FROM event_log AS el
INNER JOIN dbo.progress_note as notes 
on notes.event_log_id = el.event_log_id
Seems (based on the name, anyway) like a pretty basic scalar UDF that just massages strings, won't be subject to a lot of changes over time, and doesn't rely on any data. So, I suggest you make a copy of the function on the source server, and fight whatever rule is preventing you from doing so (it shouldn't be hard if you can justify the use of the function, and describe what kind of hack you're trying to use as a workaround to the rule). Note that the function doesn't have to live in the same database, it just needs to be on the same server.

(Even if the function does rely on data, and it's clear in your case it doesn't, the local copy of the function could reference the data in the other server, using 4-part name(s), without referencing any functions.)

DRY is not always worth pursuing.