Unable to make remote connections to SQL Server 2008 Express

Question

I have a SQL Server instance installed on my VPS I've followed all the usual steps to connect remotely including:

• Allowing Remote Connections
• Enabling TCP/IP + adding port 1433 to the IPAll range
• Creating a Firewall rule to enable the connection

Still no luck though I always get the error message:

A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server

Is there something I missed?

Answer 1

Turns outt he problem was that I hadn't allowed the SQL Server Browser through the Windows Firewall on Windows Server 2008.

So to fix:

Add an exception for the SQL Server Browser. (udp port 1434)

Answer 2

you must check that also all the following

• check the protocol named pipes is enabled
• the IP port for named pipes is enabled (usually port# 445)
• the SQL Server Browser service is started