Connecting to SQL Server Express - What is my server name?

sql sql-server sql-server-2008 sql-server-express

115,041

Solution 1

You should be able to see it in the Services panel. Look for a servicename like Sql Server (MSSQLSERVER). The name in the parentheses is your instance name.

Solution 2

Instead of giving:

./SQLEXPRESS //in the Server Name

I put this:

.\SQLEXPRESS //which solved my problem

Solution 3

If sql server is installed on your machine, you should check

Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server 20XX -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server Configuration Manager -> SQL Server Services You'll see "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)"

Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server 20XX -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server Configuration Manager -> SQL Server Network Configuration -> Protocols for MSSQLSERVER -> TCP/IP Make sure it's using port number 1433

If you want to see if the port is open and listening try this from your command prompt... telnet 127.0.0.1 1433

And yes, SQL Express installs use localhost\SQLEXPRESS as the instance name by default.

Solution 4

Sometimes none of these would work for me. So I used to create a new web project in VS and select Authorization as "Individual User Accounts". I believe this work with some higher version of .NET Framework or something. But when you do this it will have your connection details. Mostly something like this

(LocalDb)\MSSQLLocalDB

Solution 5

by default -

you can also log in to sql express using server name as:

./SQLEXPRESS

or log in to sql server simply as

View more solutions

115,041

Author by

jdavis

Updated on July 23, 2022

Comments

jdavis almost 2 years
I was just given a laptop to perform some development from a client and I am currently in the process of setting it up. Visual Studio 2010 is installed as well as SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2. I'm trying to open SQL Server Management Studio to connect to the database but so far am not having much luck. I'm used typing in for a server name something like...
```
localhost
(local)
SQLEXPRESS
```
None of these are working.

So my question is: How can I tell what type of SQL Server installation and configuration I have on this machine, and how can I discover what server name I need to use in order to properly connect to it?

--Addition--------------------------------------------

I looked into the services as directed and found a few instances as indicated. SQLEXPRESS and MSSQLSERVER. I have tried to login with both of those options in these configurations...
```
SQLEXPRESS
MSSQLSERVER
computername\SQLEXPRESS
computername\MSSQLSERVER
.\SQLEXPRESS
.\MSSQLSERVER
```
None of these worked. I also altered the 'Log On As' property of the services from 'Network Service' to 'Local System' and tried them again. Still no success.
jdavis almost 12 years

Using telnet as you direct, I an error message saying: Connecting to 127.0.0.1...Could not open connection to the host, on port 1443: Connect failed. How do I configure this port to listen?
StuartLC almost 12 years

Note that SQLExpress doesn't install with TCP/IP by default, and is locked down for remote access / firewall etc. See here on how to open this up : stackoverflow.com/questions/9138172/…
Kishan Gajjar almost 10 years

I want to use it using 127.0.0.1\sqlexpress. is it possible ?
Thylle almost 8 years

"localhost\SQLEXPRESS" as server name did the job for me! Thanks
jrh about 7 years

@Thylle I can confirm this as well, after installing SQL Server 2008 Express with all default settings, SQLEXPRESS as a server name never worked, but localhost\SQLEXPRESS did (using Windows Authentication). I guess I was confused as to whether the hostname was necessary in the server name or not.
mffap about 4 years

thanks, that acually saved me. I was not able to display the connection string again after installing the software.
Mustafa Bazghandi almost 3 years

On my machine it was: (localdb)\mssqllocaldb