Need connection string for SQL 2008.

I forget exactly what 2008 needed, but try this newer syntax:

"Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=serverName;Initial Catalog=databaseName;User ID=MyUserID;Password=MyPassword;"

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»bp

Bill... I get the error that my server doesn't exist.

Are you able to connect to that server any other way from the client, via SQLCMD or SSMS, etc?

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»bp

Via RDP.

Well, that's connecting to it as a RDP server, not a SQL Server database server.  It sounds like SQL Server may not be running there currently.

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»bp

www.connectionstrings.com - The connection string bible as it were.

Specifically:  https://www.connectionstrings.com/sql-server-2008/

Make sure to not use spaces before =, and better not to do that after either.

Provider= SQLOLEDB; Server= ServerName; User id= UserName; Password= ThePassword; Database=TheDB

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should work - if you made sure you can connect to MSSQL from remote at all.

This is a functioning SQL Server with web pages on it.

Just to be clear, web pages would come off of an IIS web server, not a SQL Server database server.

Both could be active on the same server, but just to clarify...

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»bp

Right... I have a webserver that has SQL on it.  What I'm trying to do is write a piece of software that monitors and email address.  Once it sees an email it will parse it and update some fields in a SQL database.

Currently the program can pull the email and parse it.

What I thought would be a no brainer (connecting to SQL) is the most difficult part.

Your software find runs on the server, or remote?

Qlemo... I don't know what "Your software find on the server, or remote?" means.

Sheldon ... can you create a SQL Server ODBC connection to the SQL Server and see your databases in the wizard ?

Sam... I cannot.  Doesn't see the server:

Ok ... that means that SQL is not listening for connections (or cannot resolve the name).
Can you connect via IP address?
Can you TELNET <ip address> 1433  (assuming you're using the default SQL port)?
If not, you might want to start by rebooting the server (if you haven't already).

I can RDP via the IP address... the local IP address (non-routed 10.x)
I'll need to install Telnet later.
Server is working fine and not needing a reboot.  It is a webserver and is serving up pages fine.

As Bill mentioned earlier, IIS and SQL Server are different services (IIS listens on 800/443, and SQL listens on 1433), so just because one is working, doesn't mean that the other is.
If you RDP to the server, can you connect to the databases with SQL Server Management Studio?

Yes I can connect to the server via RDP and the studio.  That is how I maintain it.

So... I shut down the FW and could connect.  I then turned on the FW and made an inbound rule for 1433 and it worked.

Thank you Sam!

Cool ... I hate firewalls, but unfortunately, they are a necessary evil! :)

Thanks again Sam!

Glad you got that resolved Sheldon, well done Sam.

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»bp

@Sheldon ... you are most welcome.

@Bill ... Thanks.