title: How can I connect to Sql Server 2008 remotely using an IP Address?
body: <p>When I publish my project clients will need to be able to setup the initial configuration, and part of that is the Sql Database Connection. I have an instance of Sql Server 2008 running on my system (MSSQLSERVER2008) as well as SQLEXPRESS2005. I am trying to use the following connection string locally just to see if this works, and I can't get it to work:</p>
  
  <pre><code>ConnectionString = {Data Source=127.0.0.1;Initial Catalog=DCOMProductionsDesktop;Integrated Security=False;User ID=DCOMProductionsDesktopService;Password=;Network Library=dbmssocn}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The error I get is the usual "The target machine actively refused the connection".</p>
  
  <p>*There isn't any firewalls running, and its inside the network anyway
  *TCP/IP Protocols are enabled
  *Remote Connections are enabled and permitted</p>
  
  <p>So, I'm stumped.</p>
  
  <p><b>Edit</b></p>
  
  <p>I changed the connection string's data source to:</p>
  
  <pre><code>DataSource=192.168.0.2\MSSQLSERVER2008 on my WinXP VM (for testing remotely)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Now, this did work. But when I deploy this across the internet, will that same connection string work for clients outside my network using a domain name such as:</p>
  
  <pre><code>DataSource=desktop.dcomproductions.com\MSSQLSERVER2008
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Or will I need to do something different?</p>