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Remote connection to SQL Server Express 2008

I don't know why SQL Server Express doesn't have remote access "out-of-the-box" but anyways... here is how to enable it.

In the server:

1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager
2. Under SQL Server Network Configuration, select Protocols for SQLEXPRESS and make sure TCP/IP is enabled. Otherwise, enable it
3. Then, select SQL Server Services, and make sure SQL Server Browser is on Start Mode: Automatic

We need to be sure, that our server accepts SQL Authentication. If you know this option is already enabled in your server, skip the next steps. If you know they are not, or you're not sure, follow this steps:

1. Open Management Studio (in the server) and connect to your database, using Windows Authentication Mode
2. Right click on your database, and select Properties
3. Under Security, select SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode
4. Under Connections, check "Allow connections to this server"

I read somewhere that you should reboot the server. Just restarting the SQL Server Service doesn't work (I can confirm this).

Now, just remember ALWAYS to add the SQLEXPRESS part to your hostname. For instance, if your server name is win2008server, then you should connect to win2008server\sqlexpress in your applications.