Linked server connection error

  • Hi,

    I have a very frustrating problem when trying to connect and set up a linked server scenario. Hope someone can help.

    I have SQL 2005 Standard (2005.90.1399) on my XP SP2 laptop (in our company domain). I also have a virtual server running Server 2003 SP2, with SQL 2005 standard, same version as the host laptop. This is in WORKGROUP workgroup.

    I had it working before, where I could connect from the host laptop to a DB on the server using a data link and using Management Studio, but now I can't get it to work at all. Keep getting the error:

    Msg 65535, Level 16, State 1, Line 0 SQL Network Interfaces: Error Locating Server/Instance Specified

    I've tried all kinds of stuff with SQL Browser, port numbers in the connection UDL, in an alias, I have turned firewall off on the virtual server, I've installed WireShark to see what's going on on the connection but don't really understand what it's telling me!

    I've spent bits of time over the last month looking at this, but more solid time the last two nights and I'm at the point now where I have no idea where to go with it.

    I think I've tried everything, but I'm hoping someone can help me out. The thing I'm wondering is whether it's because of the domain/workgroup thing, but I haven't found any KB article that describes how to resolve this.

    Ultimately I need to set these two up as linked servers, using aliases as our app requires the SQL server name to be the same as the computer name. We have done this several times before without a problem, and have most clients working ok in this scenario, but there are a couple and now me with my VM environment that have this problem.

    Thanks in advance,

    James

  • Try having the Workgroup server join the domain of your target server.

  • Have you tried connecting by the IP address instead of the computername?

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