Connecting to remote SQL server using IP address

Question

I dont have so much experience in SQL server. I'm trying to connect to an SQL Server 2005 via IP address. My connection string is:

"Data Source=117.213.4.155,1433;Network Library=DBMSSOCN;Initial Catalog=PostDB;User ID="<user>";Password="<password>"

I'm getting this error:

An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: TCP Provider, error: 0 - No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it.)

I have enabled TCP/IP connection using Surface Configuration tool and I dont have a firewall now.

So how can I solve this? And please give me some advice and insights about storing and retrieving data in remote SQL server. I have no other way to clarify this issue. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

this article should help

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914277#method2

Enable remote connections on the instance of SQL Server that you want to connect to from a remote computer. Turn on the SQL Server Browser service.

Answer 2

Make sure you can ping the server and the remote server allows connections. Just having an IP address for SQL Server doesn't mean it can be connected. Make sure the server ip is external and accessible from the internet. This is a internet connection issue. Also check the port and everything.