---
id: AA-00510
title: "Preparing SQL Server Express"
url: http://netaphor.com/kb/AA-00510/preparing-sql-server-express
product: "SiteAudit OnSite"
type: "How-to & configuration"
updated: 2020-09-11
access: public
---


# Preparing SQL Server Express

This document provides a set of step-by-step instructions for setting up SQL Server Express for Netaphor SiteAudit™.

SQL Server Express Configuration

The actions described in this article are not required when using the SQL Prerequisites installer obtained from the Netaphor website unless the database content is to be shared with users on different machines.

### Before You Begin

Before you prepare SQL Server, you should:

- Make your hardware and software deployment decisions. See **Overview of SiteAudit On-Site Deployment**.
- Install prerequisites. See **Installing Prerequisites**.

### Setting up the Database Server

The following actions must be taken in order for the SQL Express database to be accessed from a remote machine:

- Enable the TCP/IP protocol
- Configure the TCP/IP port (default 1433)
- Enable SQL Browsing

The following instructions explain how to accomplish these tasks

1. Run **Start** -\> **All Programs** -\> **Microsoft SQL Server** *(edition)* -\> **Configuration Tools** -\> **SQL Server Configuration Manager**.
2. Expand **SQL Server **(*edition*) **Network Configuration** and click **Protocols for SQLEXPRESS***.
3. *

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sql-tcp.gif)

1. Right-click the **TCP/IP** protocol name and click **Properties**.

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/image002.jpg)

1. On the **Protocol** tab, set **Enabled** to **Yes**.

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sql-enabletcp.gif)

1. On the **IP Addresses** tab, set the **Enabled** property to **Yes** for every IP address listed and the TCP Port is **1433**.

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/tcp.gif)

1. Click **OK**.
2. Click **OK** to dismiss the following warning:

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/image005.jpg)

1. In the left pane, click **SQL Server Services** or **SQL Server 2008 Services** (depending on SQL Server version).
2. In the right pane, right-click **SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) **and click **Restart**.

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/image006.jpg)

1. Close SQL Server Configuration Manager.

## Remote Connections to SQL Express

If users want to connect to the SiteAudit database from a remote machine, such as the case when installing multiple viewers in the same organization, it is necessary to start the SQL Browse service.

- Open the Services panel and locate the **SQL Server Browser** service
- Right click to open the menu and select **Properties**

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sqlproperties.png)

- Set the *Startup type* to **Automatic **and close the dialog. This ensures that the service starts automatically when the computer is powered on or rebooted

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sql-browserservice.gif)

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sqlstart.png)

- Right click to open the menu and select **Start**

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sqlstartup.png)

- When complete, both the SQL Server Browser and SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) must be running

![](http://netaphor.com/kb/media/AA-00510/sql-srvmgr.gif)