CODEWITHSUNDEEP
sql-serverssms
Christine
Christine

Reputation: 640

Can't Connect to my Local SQL Server Instance in SSMS

I have SQL Server 2008 R2 Express installed on Small Business Server 2011. I'm having trouble connecting to my local SQL Instance through Management Studio. No matter what I try, I'm getting this message:

A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Proveder, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 2)

I found a few articles on SO and elsewhere that advised me to look at Config Manager, make sure SQL Server Browser is running, and to glean my Server Name from there. But, no matter what I try (localhost, (local), SQLEXPRESS, ./SQLEXPRESS, (local)/SQLEXPRESS, SHAREPOINT, ./SHAREPOINT, (local)/SHAREPOINT, etc) I get the same message. I can't figure out the magic words to make Management Studio connect to my local SQL instance.

FWIW: Here's what I'm getting out of Config Manager: enter image description here

Upvotes: 3

Views: 6909

Answers (2)

Hadi
Hadi

Reputation: 37348

Try writing the server as follow:

Machinename\SQLEXPRESS

Upvotes: 3

Scott P
Scott P

Reputation: 5

If you click on SQL Server Network Configuration, do you have Named Pipes Enabled under Protocols for SQLEXPRESS? In an instance I have installed, I have TCP/IP, Shared Memory and Named Pipes all enabled.

Upvotes: 0

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