Create exceptions in Windows Firewall

These steps apply to the version of Windows Firewall that is included in Windows
XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and in Windows Server 2003. If you are using a different
firewall system, see your firewall documentation for more information. If you are
running a firewall on the computer that is running SQL Server 2005, external
connections to SQL Server 2005 will be blocked unless SQL Server 2005 and the
SQL Server Browser service can communicate through the firewall. You must
create an exception for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that you want to accept
remote connections and an exception for the SQL Server Browser service.SQL
Server 2005 uses an instance ID as part of the path when you install its program
files. To create an exception for each instance of SQL Server, you must identify
the correct instance ID. To obtain an instance ID, follow these steps:

• Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.
• In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click the SQL Server Browser service in the right pane, right-click the instance name in the main window, and then click Properties.
• On the SQL Server Browser Properties page, click the Advanced tab, locate the instance ID in the property list, and then click OK.
• To open Windows Firewall, click Start, click Run, type firewall.cpl, and then click OK.