Books Online has a short tutorial on connectivity called Getting Started
with the Database Engine, that may you spot your problem. You can view
it at:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345318.aspx
--
Rick Byham, MS

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"JP" <JP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:320E146C-0DFC-42CD-B533-163A0DE457EA@microsoft.com...
>I get the following error "An error has occurred
> while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL
> Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under default
> settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider:
> NamedPipes Provider, error:40 - Could not open a connection to SQL
> Server)".
>
> I can test (using NT Authenication) from the ODBC connection and it
> "Passes".
> Via surface area, it appears that I have name pipes and TCPIP setup.
> I not very versed in SQL2005.
>
> Thanks for any input!
>
>