Connecting to SQL Server Express - What is my server name? - sql

I was just given a laptop to perform some development from a client and I am currently in the process of setting it up. Visual Studio 2010 is installed as well as SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2. I'm trying to open SQL Server Management Studio to connect to the database but so far am not having much luck. I'm used typing in for a server name something like...
localhost
(local)
SQLEXPRESS
None of these are working.
So my question is: How can I tell what type of SQL Server installation and configuration I have on this machine, and how can I discover what server name I need to use in order to properly connect to it?
--Addition--------------------------------------------
I looked into the services as directed and found a few instances as indicated. SQLEXPRESS and MSSQLSERVER. I have tried to login with both of those options in these configurations...
SQLEXPRESS
MSSQLSERVER
computername\SQLEXPRESS
computername\MSSQLSERVER
.\SQLEXPRESS
.\MSSQLSERVER
None of these worked. I also altered the 'Log On As' property of the services from 'Network Service' to 'Local System' and tried them again. Still no success.

Instead of giving:
./SQLEXPRESS //in the Server Name
I put this:
.\SQLEXPRESS //which solved my problem

You should be able to see it in the Services panel. Look for a servicename like Sql Server (MSSQLSERVER). The name in the parentheses is your instance name.

If sql server is installed on your machine, you should check
Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server 20XX -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server Configuration Manager -> SQL Server Services
You'll see "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)"
Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server 20XX -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server Configuration Manager -> SQL Server Network Configuration -> Protocols for MSSQLSERVER -> TCP/IP
Make sure it's using port number 1433
If you want to see if the port is open and listening try this from your command prompt...
telnet 127.0.0.1 1433
And yes, SQL Express installs use localhost\SQLEXPRESS as the instance name by default.

Sometimes none of these would work for me. So I used to create a new web project in VS and select Authorization as "Individual User Accounts". I believe this work with some higher version of .NET Framework or something. But when you do this it will have your connection details. Mostly something like this
(LocalDb)\MSSQLLocalDB

by default -
you can also log in to sql express using server name as:
./SQLEXPRESS
or log in to sql server simply as
.

This was provided after installation of Sql Express 2019
Server=localhost\SQLEXPRESS;Database=master;Trusted_Connection=True;
So just use 'localhost\SQLEXPRESS' in server name and windows authentication worked for me.

Similar to what StuartLC was saying, my problem was not resolved until I enabled TCP/IP protocol under SQL Network Configuration>>Protocols for MSSQLSERVER in the SQL Server Configuration Manager dialogue box. After enabling this and a restart, my SSMS connected right away with just the instance name (no ~\MSSQLSERVER).

All of the following services should be running,for successful connectivity:
SQL Full test filter Daemon,
SQL server(SQLEXPRESS),
SQL Server Agent(SQLEXPRESS),
SQL Server Browser,
SQL server reporting service and
SQL Server VSS Writer

Related

Cannot connect to SQL Server 2008R2 Express

I have just installed SQL Server 2008 R2 Express. I haven't set anything unusual during the installation process. Everything was default, that the instance name is SQLExpress, the connection is via SQL Server with user sa and my password. I have opened SQL Server Configuration Manager and I can see under SQL Express Service, SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)'s state is running. Yet, it does not let me get connected :/
I am using Commodo Internet Security. I have looked at Firewall Log and it says only that Windows Operating System is blocked. I set CIS to ask for every connection and it doesn't show anything. I am not sure if it's it.
Any idea how to diagnose the problem? Thanks in advance.
EDIT:
Under the Server Name, I provide SQLEXPRESS which was the set name while installing the server.
As server name, you need to use
.\SQLEXPRESS or (local)\SQLEXPRESS
where the dot . stands for the local machine - SQLEXPRESS is the name of the instance (not the server name itself)

Connect Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 to SQL Server 2008 R2 database

I want to use my database in Visual Studio. I attach the database in SQL Server and when I want to run the project in Visual Studio 2010, I get this error:
http://i57.tinypic.com/2cz3rra.jpg
I enabled TCP/IP and disabled the firewall, and in SQL Server, remote connection is checked. My port is 1433 and everything is ok for Enable remote connection.
I connect to SQL Server by localhost .. and don't know what is my instance
Perhaps my project is not work good and error is for my project ..
I put my project link in first comment , any body can check it for errors ? This is very important for me !!
Check whether your id has access on the specified database(and server) or not. Also check whether you've enabled SQL server browser or not. Required services for the server in SQL configuration manager should be running.
Check your connection string or maybe your firewall is blocking the connection

SQL Server 2008 R2 First Time Login

I've just started work on a new computer in which I had to download all the software fresh.
I've just download a copy of SQL Server 2008 R2, and I'm trying to connect to SQL Server Management Studio without success. I vaguely remember last time I installed this, it asked me to choose between windows, or sql server authentication, however this didn't happen for this installation.
If I try to login via Windows Authentication (where the username and password fields are greyed out, localhost as server name) it gives the following error:
"A Network-related or instance
specific error occured 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: 2)"
I have checked everything in SQL Server Configuration Manager, and everything bar VIA is enabled.
If I try SQL Server Authentication, It asks me for a username and password which I definiately have not set yet. Also, under SQL Server Services in configuration manager, there is nothing there.
Any help would be appreciated :)
Thanks
PS: I don't know if it's worth mentioning but I am running Windows 7 as a virtual machine on a Mac.
Are you sure you have the correct instance name? If it was SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition then the default instance name is .\SQLEXPRESS.
Also if your using sql authentication to connect try running sql management studio as admin, if you are a limited user your identity might not be mapped to an account in sql server yet but i believe the Administrators user group is.
You need to check if your services are running.
Please type
net start mssqlserver
in your command prompt. Then try to login.
Ended up reinstalling completely and doing a fresh install from a fresh download. When I did this I was brought through the steps of selecting the default instance, and selecting authentication modes.
Working fine now :)
After checking tons of sites looking for an answer to this question, I think I have a simple solution.
Open the sql Server Configuration
Click on the sql server services node
Right Click on Sql server
Click Start.
I have been screwing around with this forever, and this simple method actually worked.

Connecting to a fresh SQL Server installation

I know mysql, and I'd like to learn sqlserver.
I'm currently stuck on the basics of basics:
How to install and configure sql server
How to connect to it
I installed Sql Server through Web Platform Installer, and have Visual Studio 2008 installed. Still, I can't understand how to connect to my server:
I see that the SQL service itself (SQLEXPRESS) is running in both in services.msc and Sql Server Configuration Manager
I try to connect to it via the Management Studio, but I don't understand what to do.
Where do I begin?
Start Management Studio and Select Database Engine as your SqlExpress instance then choose Windows Authentication and press connect. After that in object explorer you will see your databases if you want to create one right click databases and create new one.
You can look at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186312.aspx
There are two types of ways you can install a SQL Server instance:
1. Named Instance
2. Default Instance
When you use the default instance, and it's the only instance on the machine, the server would listen directly on the port 1433 which is the default SQL Server port. This is what you'd expect if you come from a mysql background.
When you "name" an instance, such as SQLEXPRESS, it works differently. You connect to a special service (SQL Server Browser Service) which now listens on that port, and points the client to the "correct" port of the named instance. I hope I'm being accurate about this one, but that's what happens in general.
You could connect directly to the named instance if you see what port it binds to in the SQL Server error log, and if you could choose the port in the client application.
Read more about this here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181087.aspx

SQL SERVER 2005 Connectivity Problems

I am having a hell of a time trying to connect to the SQL SERVER 2005 database. I am using Windows 7.
Here is the screenshot of the error thrown:
(source: highoncoding.com)
I have been battling this issue for the past week and still no progress.
I have tried the following in the server name:
(local)
localhost
computername
none of them worked!
I just checked in the services section and SQLSERVER EXPRESS is not even there. I am using the following post as a reference:
https://serverfault.com/questions/11745/i-cannot-connect-to-my-local-sql-server-2008
This instance of SQL Server is running on the same PC you're connecting from? That's the implication of 'local'.
Possibilities :
1) Try (local) instead of local for the server name
2) Try 'MSSQLSERVER' as the name
3) Check the SQL Server Configuration Manager shows the same configuration options you're attempting to connect with, eg the same instance name, Named Pipes enabled, services running ok, etc.
EDIT :
Ok, what are you using to connect with? SQL Server Management Studio Express? Are you sure you installed an instance? The lack of SQLExpress in the services list would seem to indicate otherwise.
When you connect to a SQL Server you specify the name in the form {computername}\{instancename}. The {instancename} is the name of the SQL instance which was chosen during the SQL Server installation. For {computername} you can substitute the special names . or local when connecting to the localhost machine. If the SQL Server was installed as the Default instance then the instance name part must be omitted, so the connection Server name becomes just the computer name.
SQL Server Express installs by default an instance named SQLEXPRESS. The corresponding NT service name is MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS. The Server name in the connection dialog is .\SQLEXPRESS, local\SQLEXPRESS, localhost\SQLEXPRESS or {computername}\SQLEXPRESS (they're all the same).
If the SQL Server was installed as the Default instance name then the corresponding NT service name is MSSQLSERVER. The Server name in the connection dialog is ., local, localhost or {computername} (they're all the same).
If the SQL Server was installed as a named instance then the corresponding NT service name is MSSQL${INSTANCENAME}. The Server name in the connection dialog is .\{INSTANCENAME}, local\{INSTANCENAME}, localhost\{INSTANCENAME} or {computername}\{INSTANCENAME} (they're all the same).
When connecting from a remote computer to a SQL Server instance the SQL has to be configured to allow remote connection How to configure SQL Server 2005 to allow remote connections.
Check your SQL server configuration, make sure the TCP connections are enabled. You can also check that the SQL Browser service is started. Make sure you do not have a firewall that gets on the way. Make sure the SQL Server service is also started.
Did you install SQL Server on the default instance, or have you used named instances? If you've used named instances then the server will be server\instancename. If you don't know, then have a look in the Services administrative tool; you'll be able to determine the instance name, if any, from there).
You could also try connecting with the server name as a single period (i.e. simply ".") [caveat... I've not got access to SQL Server at the moment, but I think I've used this before now].