Which SQL Server version can connect to remote web server?

Victor

16y4.2k

Hi,

I see there's quite a few versions of SQL Server 2008.
One of those is the WEB version ("for web application hosting").
Does that mean I need that version in order to host a database which can be approached through the web/internet?

I have a DESKTOP application (C#) and I'm trying to get the data from my web server through the internet, but I get the following error message:

"A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL server. The server was not found or was not accessible.
Verify that the instance name is correct and the SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Location Server/Instance Specified)"

In my web server I installed SQL Server 2008 Express and I can access the data internally (intranet) but it fails when using the (temporary) IP-address assigned by the internet provider and or the name assigned by the DynDns.
I have configured it to allow remote connections, but all to no avail.

Thus, back to my question, is the SQL Server 2008 WEB version required to access data through the internet?

Then, if the Express version should accomplish that task, what exactly is the advantage(s) of the WEB version, or how does it contribute to establishing the connection?
...and, assuming the Express is enough, what could I be missing (some setting, permission, etc.) that I cannot get it to work (accessing remote data)?

Thanks a lot in advance.

3 Replies

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Victor16y ago
Thank you for your assistance Venkatesan.
However, I think I may need some more clarification concerning how SQL server connects to a remote database, since you say that passing data through the internet is not advisable.
I thought that when connecting to a remote server the connection always transcurred through the internet (since I use the http:\myserver\ or IP-address). Is this not the case?

My problem is that I have a SQL Server Express database which I can access from other computers in the intranet but I am unable to access it remotely (thus, by http:\MyServer or its IP-address). I then get the error I mentioned on my post, so I was wondering whether the problem is security related, and if so which setting exactly (and where) should I adjust to allow the connection(s)? Or, I thought it might have to do with the SQL Server version, because I see there's a lot of versions out there, and one of them is the WEB version, which made me think that might be the reason I cannot connect remotely.

Anyway, as you can see I am confused as to how I can connect to my server's database from a remote location, especially when you say that it doesn't happen through the internet. I would appreciate a little enlightment here.

Thanks in advance.
Venkatesan Jayakantham16y ago

Victor,
Nice to see your post. Am bit confused with your post. But managed to get some information. SQL Server will react same for both desktop and web application. If the database is in a remote location. In that case, data will be transferred through network. Passing data through internet is not advisable.
Check my blog for your issue. I have written more articles on this similar kind of issue.
Cheers,
Venkatesan Prabu .J
http://venkattechnicalblog.blogspot.com
Victor16y ago
I'm not sure what to think.
Either my question is truly a big 'unknown' or it is too 'simple/obvious' for the experts out there.