Need help configuring SQLExpress

Question

I have installed Cirrus 4, which also does an install of MS SQLExpress. The install didn't really ask for any specifics other than an sa password which I supplied.  Upon completion of the install, I fired up Cirrus which brought up the new database wizard. I am unable to create a new database and am wondering if SQLExpress got installed correctly or at the very least configured correctly.  When I try to create a new database, it doesn't matter whether I put in (local)\SQLExpress or servername\SQLExpress, it errors out. Basically telling me that the instance or server doesn't exist. If I just put the server name in it proceeds to the next screen as though it is creating the DB but errors out there as well.  I need help to make sure that I have SQLExpress configured correctly and how I can check whether it is.  I've tried everything that the knowledge base suggests to no avail. What do I need to do to get this thing running?

chris.lapoint · Answer

Sorry this isn't working for you.   I know we've have a number of customers that have gone through the install without issue so this might be an environment issue.   It doesn't appear we're making any progress online.

Would you please open a support ticket so we can track this and work with you to diagnose this issue?   If this is something product related, we absolutely want to fix it.

gregh825 · Answer

Everything I am trying is being done from the machine that SQLExpress is installed on. It doesn't matter what I try. Nothing seems to work. I checked the protocols you mentioned above and they are enabled.  The problem seems to be that there was no instance named SQLExpress created/installed/configured whatever. I don't know if I needed to do something during the install but I don't recall there being any time during the install that it asked me to create an instance or anything similar. My assumption with the installation of Cirrus was that everything would be automatically created or configured by default and all I would have to do is start the application and everything would be set up or easily configured but evidently I was wrong.  I'm not sure what else to try.

ShamChauthani · Answer

I assume that you are running the sqlcmd from the same machine where SQLExpress is installed. If not then by defaul SQLExpress disables protocols necessary for network access.

If you are on the same machine, the error can occur if the protocols between client and the server don't match up. To check this you can run the SQL Configuration manager (Start>Programs>Microsoft SQL 2005>Configuration>SQL Server Configuration Manager) and make sure that appropriate protocols are enabled for the Native Client Configuration.