Wednesday 27 February 2008

error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified

"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 received this error because the SQL Server Browser service wasn't running. The advantages of having this running is that users connecting remotely don't have to specify a port and security is improved.

  • Launch the Windows Services manager (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services)

  • Locate the "SQL Server Browser" service

  • Right click the service and select "Enable"


  • 2 comments:

    Unknown said...

    Thanks! Especially nice since it was the FIRST hit on my google search.

    Anonymous said...

    I have the exact same error , but am connecting to ORACLE.