Easy way to check connectivity to SQL Server from client For troubleshooting purposes, I would like to be able to check if a client can connect to a SQL Server instance, independent of the application that possibly can't connect to the SQL Server.

Is there an easy way (that means, not having to install 3rd party software) to do this using the default Windows system tools? Perhaps using scripts or network applications?
A simple test method for SQL connectivity is to create an empty text file, with a file extension of "UDL".  You can create it in Notepad.  And it can have any name.  I use "TestSQL.UDL"

Save it on the desktop of a windows PC and double click it.

A "Data Link Properties" dialog box will pop up where you can enter the IP address of the SQL server and also a SQL username and password.

Click the "Test Connection" button to see if you can connect.