How can I make MS SQL Server available for connections?

Question

I'm trying to connect to MS SQL Server (running on my machine) from a Java program. I'm getting the following long winded exception:

Exception in thread "main" com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerException: The TCP/IP connection to the host localhost, port 1433 has failed. Error: "Connection refused: connect. Verify the connection properties, check that an instance of SQL Server is running on the host and accepting TCP/IP connections at the port, and that no firewall is blocking TCP connections to the port.".

When I check "Properties" and click "View Connection Properties" in the Object Explorer of MS SQL, I find that the "Server is Unavailable." This seems possibly related to the exception message.

How can I make the server available?

Edit:

I am using SQL Server 2008, and I have now enabled TCP/IP, and restarted my instance. I am still told that "Server is unavailable."

Any other ideas?

Answer 1

I ran into this problem as well. The MSKB article applies to SQL server 2005.

As the "SQL Server Surface Area Configuration" tool has been dropped in lieu of "Facets" - this wasn't obvious to me.

I resolved this by setting the TCPAll port and enabling the relevant IP.

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Steps

1. Open the Sql Server Configuration Manager (Start -> Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server 2008 -> Configuration Tools)

2. Expand SQL Server Network Configuration -> [Your Server Instance]

3. Double click TCP/IP

   • Under Protocol:

     Ensure Enabled is Yes

   • Under IP Addresses:

     Scroll to the bottom and set the TCP Port under IPAll, (1433 by default)

     Find the IP address you want to connect to and set Enabled and Active to Yes