Error 26 in SQL Server
SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified
Users often see “SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified” error message while connecting to SQL Server.
Steps to resolve this error
First check SQL Server is running or not
Go to All Programs >> Microsoft SQL Server 2017 >> SQL Server Configuration Manager >> SQL Server Services, and check if SQL Server service status is “Running”.
If SQL Server is ‘Stopped’ then Right-click on the SQL Server & click Start.
Hope your issue will solve. If you are still getting the same error, then check ‘TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration’
Check TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration
Go to All Programs >> Microsoft SQL Server 2017 >> SQL Server Configuration Manager >>SQL Server Network Configuration >> Protocols for xxxx [Here xxxx will be your SQL Server name]
If TCP/IP is ‘Disabled‘ then Right-click on the TCP/IP & click Enable
Hope your issue will solve. If you are still getting the same error, then Enable Remote Connection
Enable Remote Connection
Right-click on the SQL Server node and select Properties.
Go to ‘Connections’ & “Allow remote connections to this server” if it is not allowed previously.
Hope your issue will solve.