Remote connection to SQL server

[tedro]

Does anyone know the steps to enabling remote connections to SQL Server?

I am using:
SQL Server Express 2005
Windows 2003

Here is everything I've done. What in the heck am I missing?

1. Plesk Firewall Settings
(Server > IP Addresses > Firewall > Local Area Connection >)
- enabled the rule for MS SQL over TCP protocol
- using port 1435 since ServerBeach blocks 1433.

2. Enabled remote connections according to this knowledgebase:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914277
• Enabled remote connections on the instance of SQL Server.
• Turned on the SQL Server Browser service.
• Configured the windows firewall exceptions to allow network traffic that is related to SQL Server and to the SQL Server Browser service.

3. Broke down into tears because this essential aspect of my server just won't work dispite a day of trying various configurations.

Please help, thanks.

[DXD]

your connection string would be:

yourip,1435 or yourdomain.com,1435

Have you tried that?

[tedro]

Yes, thank you,

I've tried connecting with:

###.###.###.###,1435
or
###.###.###.###;1435
or
###.###.###.###:1435
or
server1.mydomain.com,1435
or
server1.mydomain.com;1435
or
server1.mydomain.com:1435

... and all fail to connect.

:cry:

[tedro]

changing all to port 1444 as suggested in one of the forums.

... and nothing.

[DXD]

And you have used the sql tools to change the port it's listening on and then stoped and started the service after the change?

[jasuk1970]

I'm not sure if this will be of any use to you...

http://www.datamasker.com/SSE2005_NetworkCfg.htm

It's an article for setting up Express to allow remote connections.

Jas

[chavez]

Use telnet, both from the server and from your workstation, to test connectivity to the port.

telnet XX.XX.XX.XX 1444

If you can't connect using telnet from the server, you'll need to go back through the SQL network configuration and make sure you have TCP and the interfaces enabled, and the right port configured.

If you can connect using telnet from the server, but not from your workstation, this indicates that the service is configured properly. Double check the firewall. Allow port 1444 explicitly, or simply disable the firewall for testing.

If you can connect using telnet from the server and your workstation, then it's probably an SQL client configuration or connection string problem.

Good luck! Let us know what you find.

[tedro]

[QUOTE=chavez]

If you can't connect using telnet from the server, you'll need to go back through the SQL network configuration and make sure you have TCP and the interfaces enabled, and the right port configured.
[QUOTE]

So, I can't connect using telnet from the server. To be sure, I CAN connect with the default port, but not 1444 or 1435. I'll go back through things and see why.

Thanks, these steps have helped clear my thinking... trying this now...

[tedro]

Well, I had to open a support ticket and SB techs were able to properly configure in about 3 minutes. Looks like I was missing a setting in the SQL SERVER Network configurations to allow on port 1444. Ugh.

Thanks to everyone for your help.