Must each content database in the farm have a unique name?

Question

I'm wondering if a specific content database in the farm can always be identified by only its name?

For example, if my farm consists of multiple SQL Server instances, must each content database in the farm have a unique name, or can the same content database name be used on different instances? E.g. is it possible to have a content database named "WSS_Content" on "SqlServer\Instance1", and another "WSS_Content" on "SqlServer\Instance2"?

Answer 1

As per my experience same name for two content Database with different instance is not an issue.

SharePoint always check against the Database GUID. If you create Wss_Content01 on sql instance 1(having unique GUID) and then create another DB WSS_Content01 on SQL Instance 2(again Unique GUID).

You can attach both DBs to same web application or different web application. see the screen shot below i created two DBs with same name but different SQL instance.

Now possible Conflict:

• You trying to create a database(wss_Content01) on instance 1 but a DB with the name already exist on SQL server then it will throw the errors.
• You have Wss_Content01 on Instance 1 but now you take the backup of the DB from Instance 1 and restore it on Instance two with same name, Now if you try to mount it, it will throw the error because of the Same GUID of the DB and site collections in it.