Article ID: 200802 - Last Review: October 27, 2006 - Revision: 2.3

SMS: Cannot Connect to SQL Server If Default Protocol Is Changed

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This article was previously published under Q200802

SUMMARY

SQL Server Named Pipes network support is required for Systems Management Server (SMS) to communicate with the SQL Server that stores the Systems Management Server database. SMS utilities and services use Named Pipes by default, and may have problems connecting to the Systems Management Server database if SQL Server is configured incorrectly.

It is important to understand that the client Net-Library (and interprocess communication [IPC]) that establishes a connection must match the server Net-library (and IPC) that accepts the connection. Both the Client computer and the Server computer must be running the same network protocol.

For example, if Named Pipes network support is not installed, the Systems Management Server Administrator program may fail to start and produce the following error message:

"Unable to Connect to SQL Server."

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MORE INFORMATION

SQL Server Instance Used for SMS Site Database Must Support Named Pipes

When you change the default network protocol in the SQL Client Configuration Utility, one of the following error messages appears in the SQL Server Administrator or Systems Management Server Administrator program:

Microsoft SQL Enterprise Manager

Unable to Connect to Server (reason:[DB-Library] Unable to connect: SQL Server is unavailable or does not exist. General network error. Check your documentation). Register anyway?

Microsoft SMS Administrator

Couldn't connect to server <Server Name> This may be because the specified server could not be located or because the specified database or user information is incorrect.

Setup may fail, with the following error message in the Smssetup.log when upgrading from Systems Management Server 1.0 or 1.1 to version 1.2:

<mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss> Registering connects for XXXXXX (server name) sa (default value) SMS (default value) <mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss> Registered the types <mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss> Upgrade thread: Failed to register SQL connection types.

Additionally, SMS 2.0 setup displays the following error message:

System Management Server Setup Wizard Setup cannot complete the specified SMS installation on this computer for the following reasons: Cannot connect to SQL server <Server Name> using specified SQL Login ID and password. Please make sure they are valid.

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Solution

To correct this problem, use the following steps:

Run the SQL Client Configuration utility.
Select the Net Library tab.
Select Named Pipes in the Default Network drop-down combo box.

NOTE: By default, SQL Server is configured for Named Pipes.
Click Done.

Additionally, you need to check the SQL setup using these steps:

Run SQL Server Setup and click Continue twice.
Select Change Network Support, and then choose Continue.
Select the network protocol(s) you want SQL Server to use. In this case, Named Pipes. Click OK.
The Named Pipe name dialog box appears. Click Continue.
Select the Exit to Windows NT button.

This provides the needed match for the Client Net-Library to the Server Net-library.

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