To enable SQL Server Express to accept remote connections we need to perform
the following steps:
STEP 1: Enabling TCP/IP
First we must tell SQL Server Express to listen on TCP/IP, to do this
perform the following steps:
1. Launch the SQL Server Configuration Manager from the "Microsoft SQL
Server 2005" Program menu
2. Click on the "Protocols for SQLEXPRESS" node,
3. Right click on "TCP/IP" in the list of Protocols and choose, "Enable"
STEP 2: Start the SQL Browser Service
STEP 3: Firewall..?
At this point you should be able to remotely connect. If you still
can't chances are you have a firewall configured on the computer where SQL
Express is running. The instructions below are for Windows XP SP2's
firewall settings.
To enable the firewall to allow SQL Server Express traffic:
1. Launch the Windows Firewall configuration tool from the control
panel.
2. Click the Exceptions Tab
3. Click the "Add Programs." button and select "sqlservr.exe" from the
location where you install SQL Server Express
