How to Configure SQL Express Remote Connection

SQL Server 2008 Express is the latest edition of Microsoft SQL Server Express as of 2010. It is freely available to download, develop upon and deploy and comes with management tools that let you connect to the database for administration and modification. You can use it to build small websites and applications that do not require the level of support and intensity that commercial editions of the database have. SQL Server 2008 Express does not support remote connections by default. You will need to edit its settings to allow remote connections.

• 1

  Click "Start" and type "SQL Server Configuration Manager" to locate it in your "Start" menu. Press "Enter" to start the application.

• 2

  Click "SQL Server Services" on the left pane.

• 3

  Double click "SQL Server Browser" and click "Built-in Account." Use the "Local Service" account unless you wish to access your database only from a specific Windows account. If so, enter the login information for the account under the "Built-in Account" entry field.

• 4

  Click "Service" and set "Start Mode" to "Automatic" and then click "OK."

• 5

  Right click "SQL Server Browser" in the "Configuration Manager" window. Click "Start" from the pop-out dialog.

• 6

  Click the "+" symbol next to "SQL Server Network Configuration," then click "Protocols for SQLEXPRESS."

• 7

  Right click "TCP/IP" and click "Enable."

• 8

  Click "SQL Server Services" on the left pane and right click it. Click "Restart." Click "Start" and type "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio." Press "Enter."

• 9

  Click "Start" and type "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio." Press "Enter."

• 10

  Right click your SQL Server and click "Properties."

• 11

  Click "Security" and then click "SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode."

• 12

  Right click your SQL Server and click "Restart" again on the left pane of the Window. Your SQL Server can now accept remote connections.