SQLExpress default and instance server

  • Hello,

    I have installed default instance and a third party application has installed a named instance (could be MSDE).

    I see the following services related to SQL Server.

    MSSQL$InstanceName                     Started

    SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)              Started

    SQL Server Active Directory Helper

    SQL Server Browser                        Started

    SQL Server VSS Writer

    SQLAgent$InstanceName

    The problem is that I am not able to see the Instance named SQL Server. I am able to see the default instance and able to connect to that.

    The structure of the file folders is also kind of weird.

    Default location: \MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\

    Instance location: \MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\MSSQL$InstanceName\Data\

    How do I connect to the named instance?

    Thank you.

  • Hi

    The services that start with MSSQL$ and SQLAgent$ relate to MSDE databases as you suspected. The SQL Express server is, by the looks of it, a named instance with instance name SQLEXPRESS (I think this is the default for SQL Express).

    So how are you connecting? My guess is you would use the form: MACHINENAME\INSTANCENAME to connect. That works for me in Enterprise Manager or Management Studio to connect to MSDE databases. It should work in query strings too if that's what you're using.

    Regards,

    Duncan

  • I am able to connect to SQLEXPRESS through Management Studio, but I can't see MSDE from a server that is running EM or MS.

    How do I talk to this MSDE?

  • Hi

    I take it then you've tried registering the MSDE server in EM, or using Connect > Database Engine from MS. So when you say you can't see it, do you mean you got one of those "Server does not exist or access denied" messages?

    If so, you could try running the Server Network Utility (svrnetcn.exe) on the MDSE box to enable tcp/ip connections to it, since they may not have been enabled when it was installed.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply