To enable remote connection on SQL Server 2008 Express, see the step below:
- Start SQL Server Browser service if it’s not started yet. SQL Server Browser listens for incoming requests for Microsoft SQL Server resources and provides information about SQL Server instances installed on the computer.
- Enable TCP/IP protocol for SQL Server 2008 Express to accept remote connection.
- Change Server Authentication to SQL Server and Windows Authentication. By default, SQL Server 2008 Express allows only Windows Authentication mode so you can connect to the SQL Server with current user log-on credential. If you want to specify user for connect to the SQL Server, you have to change Server Authentication to SQL Server and Windows Authentication.
Use the following steps to configure the Windows Firewall:
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Open the Windows Firewall dialog box and click the Exceptions tab.
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Click Add Program and Browse to find sqlbrowser.exe and click OK.
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Click Add Program and Browse to find sqlservr.exe. Click OK.
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Click Add Port and enter "SQL Service" for Name, 1433 for Port number, and select the TCP radio button.
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Click OK on the Windows Firewall dialog.