title: Connect to SQL Server 2008 with TCP/IP
body: <p>I get the following error when I try to connect with TCP/IP from SQL Server Management Studio. I need a step by step description to solve my problem. What's wrong here?</p>
  
  <pre><code>Cannot connect to 
  ===================================
  
  A network related or instance specific error when a connection to SQL Server...
  (provider: Named pipe-provider, error: 40 -  SQL Server)
  (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)
  
  ------------------------------
  For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&amp;EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&amp;EvtID=53&amp;LinkId=20476
  
  ------------------------------
  Error Number: 53
  Severity: 20
  State: 0
  
  ------------------------------
  Program Location:
  
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Connect(ServerInfo serverInfo, SqlInternalConnectionTds connHandler, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64 timerExpire, Boolean encrypt, Boolean trustServerCert, Boolean integratedSecurity, SqlConnection owningObject)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.AttemptOneLogin(ServerInfo serverInfo, String newPassword, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64 timerExpire, SqlConnection owningObject)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.LoginNoFailover(String host, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance, SqlConnection owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, Int64 timerStart)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.OpenLoginEnlist(SqlConnection owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds..ctor(DbConnectionPoolIdentity identity, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, Object providerInfo, String newPassword, SqlConnection owningObject, Boolean redirectedUserInstance)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningConnection)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection)
     at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory)
     at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open()
     at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.UI.VSIntegration.ObjectExplorer.ObjectExplorer.ValidateConnection(UIConnectionInfo ci, IServerType server)
     at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.UI.ConnectionDlg.Connector.ConnectionThreadUser()
  </code></pre>