SQL Server Requirements

For SQL Server 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.

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