Can't connect to localhost, but can with computer name in SQL Server 2008

Question

I'm using SQL Server 2008 and in Visual Studio, in Server Explorer, I can connect to SQL Server running using my computer name, but I can't using 127.0.0.1 or localhost, shouldn't they be the same?

Also when using a connection string in the web.config file for the website I can't connect using localhost, but only with the computer name! Is there some setting I'm missing somewhere in the SQL Config Manager?

Answer 1

Use localhost\sql_server_instance_name

For example, localhost\sqlexpress

Use . instead of 127.0.0.1

.\sqlexpress

Answer 2

You probably need to set Sql Server to allow "remote" connections:

1. Go to Start > All Programs > Microsoft Sql Server 2008 > Configuration Tools > Sql Server Configuration Manager
2. When the configuration manager has loaded, expand the "SQL Server Network Configuration" node of the treeview to the left
3. Select the Sql Server instance that you're trying to connect to in the tree
4. All three of "Shared Memory", "Named Pipes" and "TCP/IP" should show as Enabled in the list to the right. For any that don't, double click each one in turn and change Disabled to Enabled in the window that appears.
5. Click on "Sql Server Services" in the treeview
6. Choose "SQL Server (InstanceName)" (where InstanceName will probably be SqlExpress or MsSqlServer), right click and choose Restart

Once the restart has completed, try connecting again - it should work now.

Answer 3

You can also try: .\sql_server_instance_name

.\SQLExpress