nana.asare (5/5/2010)
i have attached a screen shot of the error i got to my reply
Read the error carefully. See where it says "or Remote connections are not allowed?"
Brandie Tarvin (4/29/2010)
Check the Surface Area Config to see if SQL *allows* remote activation
In case you don't know what this means, log into the server itself (NOT through the VPN), and navigate to this path: Start -> Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server 2005 -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.
A window will pop up. Choose Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections. Another window will pop up. Open up Database Engine. Click on Remote Connections. The right hand pane will change. Make sure the "Local and remote connections" radio button is picked. Then verify which network protocols you want to use and click that.
If VPN is using Named Pipes and you've got "Using TCP/IP only" checked, you won't be able to use VPN to connect to the server. Reverse that and the same is true. So make sure whatever network protocols you're using for VPN is what's chosen here.