Cannot Connect to Server - A network-related or instance-specific error

[NeilCummings]

Cannot connect to 108.163.224.173.

A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while 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) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 1326)

This error is thrown when I try to configure my database to gridview in Visual Studio 2010. I'm at a loss as to how to debug this error.

How would you debug this error? What steps should I take in order to determine what is really going on here, in addition to the one mentioned in the error message?

[Justiin]

What else have you tried to do to resolve it? Have you tried this: Go to control panel >> Firewall Settings >> Add SQL Server’s Port to Exception List.

[OwenGByrd]

As I understand it, this problem occurred at the time of launching the local application and the remote database. Try using SQL server configuration manager to add an alias for the remote database. Hope it helps you!

[davidoliver]

The error message "Cannot Connect to Server - A network-related or instance-specific error" usually indicates that the application or program you are trying to access is having trouble establishing a connection to the server.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot this error:

Check your internet connection: Ensure that your device is connected to the internet and that your internet connection is stable. Try accessing other websites or applications to confirm that your internet connection is working properly.

Check the server status: If you are trying to access a specific website or application, check if the server is up and running. You can do this by visiting the website's status page or by contacting the website administrator.

Check your firewall settings: Make sure that your firewall is not blocking the connection to the server. If you are using a third-party firewall, temporarily disable it and try connecting again.

Check the server name and port number: Ensure that you are using the correct server name and port number to establish the connection. Double-check the connection string or settings in the application or program you are using.

Check the SQL Server configuration: If the error message is related to a SQL Server instance, ensure that the SQL Server service is running and that the instance is configured properly.

Restart the application or program: Sometimes, simply restarting the application or program can help resolve connection issues.

If none of these steps resolves the issue, you may need to contact your network administrator or the support team for the application or program you are trying to access for further assistance.