SQL Server 2005 Express on the Internet

[GavW]

Hey all!

I am hoping that somebody will be able to help me getting my database working over the Internet.

I am using VS 2005 and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and have my database set up within a web site project in VS under the App_Data folder.

Everything runs smoothly when running the application on localhost I am just facing a problem when I attempt the same thing after uploading my pages to my web server.

I am receiving the following 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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

I have tried enabling the disabled SQLEXPRESS protocols and disabled my firewall with no luck.

I have also looked into using localhost\sqlexpress as the server name but I dont see how this method would work as it appears to only run a database on the local machine which is the problem I have currently.

Could anybody help me with this problem? I have only just started trying to use SQL Server Express as a means of database connectivity and I am not exactly sure how it all works.

Thanks

 

[mrdenny]

Does the server that you are publishing your application to have SQL Express installed?

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[gmmastros]

In the management studio...

right click the server
click properties
On the server properties screen, click Connections (top left corner).

Make sure 'Allow remote connections to this server' is enabled.

-George

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. - Fortune cookie wisdom

 

[GavW]

yeah its enabled.

do i need to have SQL express installed on my web server? i know that for a full SQL Server database i would need to but the express version is free to use is it not good enough to have the .MDF database reside in the App_Data folder on the web server?

My host charges me to add an SQL Server database to my account but as i am using the express version i didnt think that this would be necessary?

 

[mrdenny]

To use SQL Express yes you need to have it installed. Simply having the mdf and ldf files on the web server isn't enough.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com