By Hally | Last Updated
While SQL Server client unable to establish connection to server, or SQL network interfaces error 26 occurs, you cannot locate server or instance specified, how to resolve it?
In following article, solutions will be provided to fix SQL Server connection error 26 occurring in SQL Server 2005/2008.
If it is just because of failed remote connection, try this way to open SQL Server 2005 remote connection.
Open Remote Connection in SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.
1. Open SQL Server Surface Area Configuration in Start All Programs Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Configuration Tools SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.
2. Navigate to Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections Database Engine Remote Connections. Choose Local and remote connections and click Apply and OK to confirm these changes.
3. Restart SQL Server Services and connect SQL Server to server or instance specified.
If for wrong server name or instance, please add instance name after server name "\". Or remove "\" and instance after it, or directly type "." after server name.
After installing SQL Server 2008 on computer, if directly connect to server or instance specified, probably you would encounter such a problem.
Provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified
In fact, as long as we know that that remote connection and SA account are disabled in SQL Server 2008 by default, solving this problem is still easy.
Step 1: Open SSMS and connect to SQL Server with Windows Authentication. Right-click SQL Server and choose Properties.
Step 2: Select Security option in left pane, and check "SQL Server and Windows Authentication" in the right pane to enable Mixed Authentication mode.
Step 3: Select Connections option in the left side and tick "Allow remote connections to this server" in the right side. Click OK. Close Server Properties window.
Step 4: Navigate to Security Logins sa. Right-click on "sa" account and choose Properties.
Step 5: Choose "SQL Server authentication" in the right pane and enter password in Password and Confirm password box for sa account logon.
Step 6: Click Status option in Login Properties window, and check Enabled to make SA account available for SQL Server connection. Click OK to finish SSMS configuration.
Step 1: Open SSCM and choose "SQL Server Services" in the left pane. Make sure SQL Server and SQL Server Browser is running.
Step 2: Double-click TCP/IP to open its properties setting window.
Step 3: Change it to be Enabled. Choose IP Addresses tab, set the PCP port 1433. And then enable TCP/IP in Client Protocols.
Generally, you can connect to server or instance now. But please check whether have added SQL Server to allowed programs in Windows Firewall. Otherwise, probably because of this reason, you still cannot connect to server or instance specified successfully.
Related Articles:
