SQL Server 2012 Express, Connection error 26, Local connection - sql

I am working locally on new laptop (windows 8 x64) with SQL Express 2012 SP1 x64, and I get the following connection error:
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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)
Kindly notice that service sqlserver is running and that shared memory, TCP/IP, Named Pipes are all enabled.
Sometimes connection is successful but only for a while.
Usually I get the connection error.
Any ideas how to resolve this issue?
Thanks in advance

Check in Windows Services, sometimes the instance of SQL Server is stopped after some updates either in Visual Studio or SQL Server. I think you mean, sometimes IT IS NOT connecting, but after some seconds it does work. Am I correct?

I've renamed my computer, sql Express was looking for the database server on the wrong path. Renaming computer back or updating path would fix that.
That might not be your issue, but help someone else.

Instead of SQL Express - can you connect to and use - (localdb)/v11.0 ?
localdb is lighter weight comparing to sqlexpress and it is the recommended way for developers to put some data quickly in SQL. Also note that localdb does NOT run as a service but as an app, so it might be easier to connect to it. Here is a question discussing other differences.

Related

SQL Server connection failure (name pipes error 40)

I am having an issue at work that is driving me mad. I am new to SQL, and am finding my legs as a system administrator (trial by fire). We have a production server that runs a SQL database and I am trying to mimic the production server in a stand-alone (test) environment. My stand-alone server is of the exact hardware and I have ghosted the production server drives on to the test server (stand-alone) as well. Everything is identical. The only difference is my test server is not in a domain. Its only in a workgroup. My setup consists of one client machine (Windows 7) and the test server running Server 2008r2(SP2)+ SQL Server 2008r2.
We have applications that connect to the database and when I run the applications (connect to the database?), I get the following error.
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 Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 5)
I have been researching this error for about 3 months now. I am at my wits end. I have tried all the solutions I could find. Most of the solutions I found here at this site. Enable remote connections-DONE, Firewall execptions-not necessary as I can disable the firewall since I'm on a standalone network, but I have been down that road before and it did not help. I don't think this is a network issue as I am using just a switch with the server and one client connected. I can ping back and forth between the systems.
I've tried so many other solutions that I cant even remember them all. Changed so many settings I've lost count. Thank goodness I can re-image the server back to normal if I feel I've gone to far and changed too many settings to where I can't remember what I've done.
As you can tell, I probably only make things worse the more I try to fix the error, but I have no choice. Everyone is looking at me to fix this and get the test server working, but I need some help. A huge thank you in advance to anyone that can help me solve this. It would be greatly appreciated!

Cannot connect to SQL server - client side issue

I might be the million'th person posting about this, but others' solutions haven't helped me. I have a database on Microsoft SQL Azure. I an trying to connect to it using the Visual Studio 2010's "Connect to Database" Tool.
From my Windows 7 machine, I can connect to it very easily. But from my Windows Server 2008R2 machine i am getting the classic error -
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 Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)
All the posts around the web seem to be focussing on the problems on the server side, no one cares if the client goes rogue. :(
Thanks for the replies.
I have seen similar problems with VS2010 DB Tool and Windows Server so I would not suggest try using SSMS 2008 R2 (must be R2). Once you have download SSMS 2008 R2 and configured properly to work on Windows Server it sure will work. In most of the case you really need to open SSMS settings to get it workon on Windows Server.
Next a few points to check:
Verify that the telnet is working from your Windows Server Machine:
c:>telnet _your_sqlazure_database_name.database.windows.net 1433
Disable your real time security and the try again
Finally following the link to keep applying settings in your Windows Server and SSMS which are applicable and I am sure it will work:
http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2340/resolving-could-not-open-a-connection-to-sql-server-errors/
One issue is that you need to connect via tcp, not named pipes (per your error message).
Are both servers behind the same firewall (e.g. the same external IP address)? The SQL Azure firewall needs to be configured to allow access from remote IP addresses.

Error 26 on SQL Server 2008

I have prepared a program with Visual Basic 2010 and I am using a SQL Server 2008 database. (service based database) it works properly. But sometimes (when I don't use computer for a period like 2 hours) I try to start my program on VB (F5), it waits, and then gives this error:
A network-related or instance-specific error occured while
establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or
is not accesible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that
SQL Server name is configured to allow remote connections. (provider:
SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance
Specified.)
I have googled it, but nothing helps. I'm afraid this error will be a problem when the user uses the program. How might I solve this?
Probably the network connection turn off after some time. Check System Operating power setting's option
The same issue I faced and got resolved by trying this - in run type services.msc:
the services window will pop up
in that SQL Server(SQLEXPRESS) start this service.
make sure SQL Browser service is running.

SQL 2005 express with 2008 express compatibility

I installed VS 2008 without SQL 2005, then I installed SQL 2008, then I needed 2005 express so I reinstalled VS checking the SQL feature.
The installation went OK, however I still cannot open mdf files from VS.
I think there is no 2005v instance installed.
When I dbl-click an mdf file in VS I get the following message:
Connections to SQL Server Files (*.mdf) require SQL Server Express 2005 to function properly. Please verify the installation of the component or download from the URL: http:go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkID=49251.
Update
I tried to attatch it, it doesn't work.
When I tried to attach it to SQL 2008 it doesn't work, when I try to attach it to SQL inside VS, I get the following error 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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)
I suspect that SQL 2005 doesn't have any instance at all.
I opened SS manager and I didn't see any installed instances.
I don't know how to install an instance, or else if there is a way to open with 2008 tell me.
Any help will be really appreciated!
You don't just "open" an mdf file in Visual Studio - you need to "attach" the file to your SQL Server instance, then access it by creating a SQLConnection (System.Data.SQLConnection) from your VS application. See here for more info on attaching databases (note the FOR ATTACH option), and here's a good intro on accessing SQL Server data using a SQLConnection.
Oh, and if you should happen to see anything about "user instances", pretend you didn't. It was supposed to make auto-attaching databases easy (in fact, attaching databases isn't all that hard anyway). Microsoft is warning that the feature will be discontinued in later releases of SQL Server, so you're better off just learning the "right" way to do it.

Problem connecting VWD Express 2008 to SQL Server Express 2005

WHen i try to connect to SQL Express 2005 from Visual Web Developer Express 2008, i was getting errors like 'Could not load file or assembly Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc' .
I read some posts which advised me to download and install 3 applications to address above issue ( SharedManagementObjects.msi, sqlncli.msi,SQLSysClrTypes.msi ).
I did that and now i get a different connection error
'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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified) '.
Does anyone know a way of overcoming this ?
Thanks.
How are you trying to connect ? Just a regular ADO.NET connection? If so, what's your connection string?
Are you trying to use SMO (SQL Mgmt Objects)? This sounds like some of your SMO objects aren't available for some reason - you might want to download and reinstall those SMO components from here. The files you want are quite a bit down the page, under the heading of "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Management Objects Collection" - files are called "SQLServer2005_XMO.msi" (with some x64 variations).
Does installing that MSI help at all?
Marc
PS: okay, thanks, based on your comment - can you try this connection string here:
string connectionString = #"Server=.\SQLEXPRESS2005;Database=DBName;Integrated Security=SSPI";
If you are running SQL Sever Express locally another thing you may want to do check in the Services console (WinKey, Run, 'services.msc') and verify that you have SQL Server and SQL Server Agent entries and that they are both running.
I think this problem is certainly with your connection string. Try doing this
Run the SQL Management Express, and get the server instance name from it.
Usually this problem occurs when the server instance name is wrong (on many computers it could be SQLEXPRESS).