SQL Server 2005 and 2008 Requirements

For SQL Server 2005 (including the Express edition) and 2008:

Ensure that the SQL Server Browser service has started. By default, this service is off. We recommend that you set it to start automatically.
You must enable the TCP/IP protocol. By default, this protocol is disabled. When you enable it, you must restart the service SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) for this change to take effect.
Ensure that your SQL Server database uses static IP ports; see below.

We recommend that you use SQL Server Configuration Manager to make these changes.

The snapshot isolation requirement when upgrading from SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2005 or 2008.

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