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 Can't Connect to SQL Server

Author  Topic 

mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 16:17:55
The instance I have is running is fine. SSMS connects to it and I can run queries against it. I have attached other old MDF files, and restored .BAK files as well.

But I can't get other applications to connect to it, such as Crystal Reports or get ODBC to create a data source. Usually with these I get a dropdown of existing database services, user/password, etc... I've done this for years. This was fine with SQL Server 2005 Express recently and now 2008 is not letting me connect in the same way. I must be missing a config setting somewhere...

Apps are just not recognising it. Is 2008 Express just not allowing external connections as part of its demo policy perhaps?? The service is running

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 16:22:44
Could you post the error? I haven't used SQL Server 2008 Express yet, but check if it has the remote connections setting.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 16:34:47
There isn't an error. You know when you look for server and set login parameters? You have the Server: dropdown, and you select it. In the first few seconds you get a list of services and you choose one. If what you're you're looking for isn't on the list, you choose the <browse for more> option, don't you? In this case, the dropdown times out in about 15 seconds. That's it. No error. Do you see? I have a service running and visible and queryable in SSMS, and actually during this whole setup process I've had a few different services going fine. Just not visible by my Crystal Reports, and the same blank Server: dropdown appears when I try to set up a data source in ODBC. I'm lost. When a service is running, these just pop up for me...
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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 16:37:39
As previous versions, with the Connections tab of Properties, the 'allow remote connections' box is ticked, and the maximum number of connections is set to 0, which means unlimited...
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 17:06:45
I don't ever connect that way. I just type in the name manually. We have hundreds of servers here, so our dropdown list would be way too big.

Does SQL 2008 Express have a SQL Browser service? If so, make sure that's running.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 17:25:37
BEFORE you typed that, I tried typed the name manually - I was getting pissed off, and it's fine. I've always had huge long lists of servers, but liked scrolling and finding the name on a list, to be sure...

It's OK. I didn't think I needed ODBC. I can't work without Crystal though.

I was surprised. I thought it had to be on the list to show it was served and available. It just worked fine when I typed it in
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-23 : 17:27:13
Glad it works by typing it in manually.

I believe the server not appearing in the list is a SQL Browser or a network issue.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

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brianjensen
Starting Member

22 Posts

Posted - 2009-01-29 : 03:41:10
Did you open your firewall to allow UDP port 1434? I believe this is the port that the SQL browser broadcasts its instances on :)
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