Enable tcp\ip remote connections to sql server express already installed database with code or script(query)

Question

I am deploying sql express with my application. I will like that database engine to accept remote connections. I know how to configure that manual by launching the sql server configuration manager, enabling tcp/ip connections, specifying the ports etc.. I am wondering if it will be possible to do the same thing from the command line.

Or maybe I will have to create a "SQL Server 2008 Server Project" in visual studio.

EDIT 1

I posted the same question in here but I will like to do the same thing on a instance of sql express that is already installed. Take a look at the question in here

EDIT 2

I found these links that claim on doing something similar and I still cannot make it work.

1) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/839980

2) http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/c7d3c3af-2b1e-4273-afe9-0669dcb7bd02/

3) http://www.sql-questions.com/microsoft/SQL-Server/34211977/can-not-connect-to-sql-2008-express-on-same-lan.aspx

4) http://datazulu.com/blog/post/Enable_sql_server_tcp_via_script.aspx

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EDIT 3

As Krzysztof stated in his response I need (plus other things that I know that are required)

1 - enable TCP/IP

I have managed to do this when installing a new instance of SQLExpress passing the parameter /TCPENABLED=1. When I install sql express like in this example. that instance of sql express will have TCP/IP enabled

2 - Open the right ports in the firewall

(I have done this manualy but I belive I will be able to figure it out how to do it with c#) So far I have to play aroud with this console command:

netsh firewall set portopening protocol = TCP port = 1433 name = SQLPort mode = ENABLE scope = SUBNET profile = CURRENT

3 - Modify TCP/IP properties enable a IP address

I have not been able to figure out how to enable a IP, change a port etc.. I think this will be the step more complicated to solve

4 - Enable mixed mode authentication in sql server

I have managed to do this when installing SQL Express passing the parameter /SECURITYMODE=SQL refer to step 1's link.

SQL Server express requires this authentication type to accept remote connections.

5 - Change user (sa) default passowrd

By default the sa account has a NULL passowrd. In order to accept connections this user must have a password. I changed the default passowrd of the sa with the script:

ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH PASSWORD='*****newPassword****' 

6 - finally

will be able to connecto if all the last steps are satisied as:

SQLCMD -U sa -P newPassword -S 192.168.0.120\SQLEXPRESS,1433

by typing that in the command line: the connection string in C# will be very similar. I will have to replace -U for user , -P for password and -S for data source. I dont recall the exact names.

Answer 1

I tested below code with SQL Server 2008 R2 Express and I believe we should have solution for all 6 steps you outlined. Let's take on them one-by-one:

1 - Enable TCP/IP

We can enable TCP/IP protocol with WMI:

set wmiComputer = GetObject( _
    "winmgmts:" _
    & "\\.\root\Microsoft\SqlServer\ComputerManagement10")
set tcpProtocols = wmiComputer.ExecQuery( _
    "select * from ServerNetworkProtocol " _
    & "where InstanceName = 'SQLEXPRESS' and ProtocolName = 'Tcp'")

if tcpProtocols.Count = 1 then
    ' set tcpProtocol = tcpProtocols(0)
    ' I wish this worked, but unfortunately 
    ' there's no int-indexed Item property in this type

    ' Doing this instead
    for each tcpProtocol in tcpProtocols
        dim setEnableResult
            setEnableResult = tcpProtocol.SetEnable()
            if setEnableResult <> 0 then 
                Wscript.Echo "Failed!"
            end if
    next
end if

2 - Open the right ports in the firewall

I believe your solution will work, just make sure you specify the right port. I suggest we pick a different port than 1433 and make it a static port SQL Server Express will be listening on. I will be using 3456 in this post, but please pick a different number in the real implementation (I feel that we will see a lot of applications using 3456 soon :-)

3 - Modify TCP/IP properties enable a IP address

We can use WMI again. Since we are using static port 3456, we just need to update two properties in IPAll section: disable dynamic ports and set the listening port to 3456:

set wmiComputer = GetObject( _
    "winmgmts:" _
    & "\\.\root\Microsoft\SqlServer\ComputerManagement10")
set tcpProperties = wmiComputer.ExecQuery( _
    "select * from ServerNetworkProtocolProperty " _
    & "where InstanceName='SQLEXPRESS' and " _
    & "ProtocolName='Tcp' and IPAddressName='IPAll'")

for each tcpProperty in tcpProperties
    dim setValueResult, requestedValue

    if tcpProperty.PropertyName = "TcpPort" then
        requestedValue = "3456"
    elseif tcpProperty.PropertyName ="TcpDynamicPorts" then
        requestedValue = ""
    end if

    setValueResult = tcpProperty.SetStringValue(requestedValue)
    if setValueResult = 0 then 
        Wscript.Echo "" & tcpProperty.PropertyName & " set."
    else
        Wscript.Echo "" & tcpProperty.PropertyName & " failed!"
    end if
next

Note that I didn't have to enable any of the individual addresses to make it work, but if it is required in your case, you should be able to extend this script easily to do so.

Just a reminder that when working with WMI, WBEMTest.exe is your best friend!

4 - Enable mixed mode authentication in sql server

I wish we could use WMI again, but unfortunately this setting is not exposed through WMI. There are two other options:

1. Use LoginMode property of Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server class, as described here.

2. Use LoginMode value in SQL Server registry, as described in this post. Note that by default the SQL Server Express instance is named SQLEXPRESS, so for my SQL Server 2008 R2 Express instance the right registry key was HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQLServer.

5 - Change user (sa) default password

You got this one covered.

6 - Finally (connect to the instance)

Since we are using a static port assigned to our SQL Server Express instance, there's no need to use instance name in the server address anymore.

SQLCMD -U sa -P newPassword -S 192.168.0.120,3456

Please let me know if this works for you (fingers crossed!).