# SQL Native Connection with SQL Express 2008 R2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Archived Topics\ **Created:** [June 29, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989 "2010-06-29T19:42:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jdelgado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@jdelgado](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jdelgado)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/1 "2010-06-29T19:42:15Z")
Hi, I am trying to make a database connection to SQL Express 2008 R2 running on Windows 2008 Server 64 Bit but the connection is failing when I try to connect. I check connecting remotely with the SQL Server Studio and DSN and I don’t have any issues. Is there a known issue using a Native Connection with FSQL and SQL Express 2008 R2. I used the native connection all the time with SQL 2008 Server. JIC I am using Hostname\SQLExpress when defining the host. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Travis.Cox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Travis.Cox](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Travis.Cox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/2 "2010-06-29T20:07:42Z")
You have to use the appropriate translator for SQL Server in FactorySQL. If you are using Windows auth you can use that translator. If not we may have to make a XML change. ---
**Author:** ![jdelgado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@jdelgado](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jdelgado)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/3 "2010-06-29T21:40:02Z")
Hi Travis, Can you elaborate more on what I need to change on the XML file. I cannot used the ODBC connection because I get error msg on the the store procedure parameter saying that they are missing, but I can test against my SQL 2008 Server and it execute fine. But the project is going to run against a SQL 2008 Express R2. Thanks > [@Travis.Cox](#): > > You have to use the appropriate translator for SQL Server in FactorySQL. If you are using Windows auth you can use that translator. If not we may have to make a XML change. ---
**Author:** ![Travis.Cox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Travis.Cox](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Travis.Cox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/4 "2010-06-29T22:04:33Z")
Take a look at this article [http://www.inductiveautomation.com/news/item/227/5](http://www.inductiveautomation.com/news/item/227/5) for more information on the translators. Look at the section FactorySQL: How to Connect to Microsoft SQL Server. Let us know if you have any more questions. ---
**Author:** ![jdelgado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@jdelgado](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jdelgado)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/5 "2010-06-29T22:21:20Z")
Travis, Can I use SQL Authentication with SQL Express using the native connection ? I don't understand why we cannot just provide the host including the instance name, on the host. Thanks > [@Travis.Cox](#): > > Take a look at this article [http://www.inductiveautomation.com/news/item/227/5](http://www.inductiveautomation.com/news/item/227/5) for more information on the translators. Look at the section FactorySQL: How to Connect to Microsoft SQL Server. Let us know if you have any more questions. ---
**Author:** ![Travis.Cox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Travis.Cox](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Travis.Cox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/6 "2010-06-29T23:24:46Z")
You can connect to SQL Server using SQL authentication and instance name. That combination will not work out of the box in FactorySQL since we are missing a translator. However, you can get it to work by altering the SQLServer.XML. Here are the steps: 1. Edit the SQLServer.xml in C:\Program Files\Inductive Automation\FactorySQL\database, remove the “,{port}” (excluding the quotes of course) in the line Data Source={server},{port}; Database… and Save. 2. Use the following parameters: Name: any name Connection Type: Native Connection Driver Type: SQL Server Translator: SQL Server Host: IPAddress\SQLEXPRESS Port: Leave Blank Database: db name Extra Connection Parameters: leave blank Username: SQL auth user Password: SQL auth password That combination should work. The {port} in the connection path is what is limiting you. ---
**Author:** ![jdelgado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@jdelgado](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jdelgado)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/sql-native-connection-with-sql-express-2008-r2/1989/7 "2010-06-30T13:05:13Z")
Thanks Travis, it works. Like always Inductive Automation always have great support, keep the good work guys. Thanks