Connect to SQL Server 2008 using Visual Studio 2013

Question

I've downloaded SQL Server 2008 from here , and I tried to connect it to Visual Studio 2013, but I get an error when I enter server name ( SQLSERVER2008 ).

How can I know the correct server name?

Here is an image of the error:

Answer 1

Go to "Start" => "All Programs" => "Microsoft Sql Server"

and open " Sql Server Configuration Manager " From there in left side pan, select " SQL Server Services ". In right side pan, there will be something like " SQL Server(instance name) ". what is in parenthesis is the name of your sql server. if you accept default setting during installation of sql server then most chances are that name of server is " SQLEXPRESS ".

Further info is here

How to check name of sql server