title: Accessing on-premises SQL database with web application hosted on Azure
body: <p>I am trying to access the SQL database that exist in the company premises from the service hosted in Azure.
  This is what I have tried:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Created MS SQL database on local server</li>
  <li>Created the sample web application (Windows Azure Cloud Service)</li>
  <li>Modify the web.config file to have the correct SQL connection string </li>
  <li>Activate the web role using Activation token from Azure Management portal</li>
  <li>Install the Local endpoint on the local server</li>
  <li>Publish web application to Azure</li>
  <li>Create endpoint group using web role and the ocal endpoint</li>
  <li>Launch the application</li>
  <li>Tried to fetch the records from database.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Getting the below error while trying to fetch the records from database using Azure:</p>
  
  <pre><code>System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException (0x80131904): A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning()
     at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Connect(ServerInfo serverInfo, SqlInternalConnectionTds connHandler, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64 timerExpire, Boolean encrypt, Boolean trustServerCert, Boolean integratedSecurity)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.AttemptOneLogin(ServerInfo serverInfo, String newPassword, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, TimeoutTimer timeout, SqlConnection owningObject)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.LoginNoFailover(ServerInfo serverInfo, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance, SqlConnection owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, TimeoutTimer timeout)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.OpenLoginEnlist(SqlConnection owningObject, TimeoutTimer timeout, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds..ctor(DbConnectionPoolIdentity identity, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, Object providerInfo, String newPassword, SqlConnection owningObject, Boolean redirectedUserInstance)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningConnection)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreatePooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnectionOptions options)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.CreateObject(DbConnection owningObject)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.UserCreateRequest(DbConnection owningObject)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.GetConnection(DbConnection owningObject)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open()
     at WebRole1._Default.btnGetEmployee_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Please help.</p>