Configure MS SQL server

1. Enable TCP/IP.

Select "Start>Microsoft SQL Server 2005>Configuration Tools>SQL Server Configuration Manager" and select the node "SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration>Protocols for SQLEXPRESS". Right-click on the TCP/IP node and select Enable (see Figure 1). Restart the SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) service by right-clicking on it in Services and select Restart.

Figure 1. Enabling the TCP/IP protocol.

2. Now you have to specify the port values. Select the node "SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration>Protocols for SQLEXPRESS". Right-click on TCP/IP node and select Properties. Select the IP Addresses tab. In IP ALL, leave the TCP Dynamic Ports (see Figure 2) area empty, and specify a value for the "TCP Port" area (default value is 1433).

Figure 2. Specifying the TCP/IP port.