title: Remote Access to MSSQL Database with Plesk
body: <p>I'm struggling to get a remote connection to a database running on a Cloud VM running Windows Server 2012 with SQL Server 2014 Express. </p>
  
  <p>I can connect locally on the machine (thorugh RDP) using SQL Server Management Studio. I have also right-clicked through SQL Managment Studio and checed that allow remote connections is enabled.</p>
  
  <p>As I mentioned the server is running plesk, so I have enable the following firewall rules; </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>MS SQL over TCP protocol  Allow incoming connections from all on port
    1433/TCP, profiles: domain,private,public          </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>and</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>MS SQL Probe  Allow
    incoming connections from all on port 1434/UDP, profiles:
    domain,private,public</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I have double checked this with the windows firewall and it seems to be allowing the connections through.</p>
  
  <p>Next, I have (through SQL Configuration Manager) done the following;</p>
  
  <p>SQL Server Network Configuration -> Protocols for MSSQLSERVER</p>
  
  <p>Enabled TCP/IP
  Enabled Named Pipes</p>
  
  <p>Under the TCP/IP properties I have IP2 enabled and active, with the IP Address being the public static ip pointng to the server, TCP Dynamic ports is empty and TCP Port is 1433.</p>
  
  <p>IPALL has TCP Dynamic Ports blank, and TCP Port is 1433. </p>
  
  <p>I have restarted the SQL Services, and the instance is running as MSSQLSERVER.</p>
  
  <p>I have then tried to connect remotely through SQL Management Studio (and VS 2013). </p>
  
  <p>Through SQL Management Studio I get the following error;</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>A network related or instance-specific error occurred whilst
    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)
    (Microsfot SQL Server, Error: 53).</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>(I use the server IP and the Server Name, i.e. I am not specifiying an instance or port here and I use the same credentials as I have logged in with locally). </p>