As SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is installed as a Named Instance by
default (unless you change it during SQL Server Setup), it must be using a
Dynamic Port for TCP protokol now.

In some cases I witnessed people experienced conneting remotely and they
were using Dynamic Ports. When they change it to a Static Port, they
successfully connected.

I've an article about remote connection settings, however it's in Turkish.

You can configure your port settings through SQL Server Configuration
Manager. Simply, to use a Static Port for your SQL Server Instance:
- Open up SQL Server Configuration Manager
- From the left side list, expand "SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration"
node
- Choose your SQL Server Instance
- Go to TCP/IP' s Properties
- In the TCP/IP Properties window, go to IP Addresses tab
- You'll see there is IP All in the bottom of this window and there, you'll
see that there is a port number in the TCP Dynamic Ports property. This
means that your SQL Server Instane using a Dynamic Port.
- To set it as a Static Port, clear that port number in the TCP Dynamic
Ports property (just clear it, don't type "0" or something).
- Then in the TCP Port property (which is just below the TCP Dynamic Ports
property), type a Static Port for your SQL Server Instance. Ensure that this
port is not a standard port or it's being used by another
service\application.
- After configuring your SQL Server Instance' s TCP/IP settings, you should
restart your SQL Server Instance' s Database Engine service so that these
new settings will be applied.

You can check if the port has been opened and being listening by going to
Command Prompt. Then run "Netstat -a" command. This will show you info about
the TCP and UDP ports.

I also suggest you to check your TCP/IP settings.

For example, when you open TCP/IP Properties and then IP Addresses tab,
you'll see IPs listed there. Mostly IP1 is the one we use to connect to our
SQL Server Instances. Ensure that it's Enabled and Activated. Also, ensure
that the correct IP address is written in the IP Address property for this
IP1's settings. This IP Address is the one which is your SQL Server
server's.

--
Ekrem Önsoy

"Roger Withnell" discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
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