How to use the Get data features in Power Bi Desktop to import data from SQL Server

Question

Hi,

Could you please help me out? I'm stuck in this module.

I have been trying to use the Get data features in Power BI to import data from SQL Server, but I keep getting an error message, unable to connect, and the message below..

Details: "Microsoft SQL: A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)"

I have cleared my cache and also restarted my system, but I don't know what the problem is all about.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Thank you.

Naomi A

This question is related to the following Learning Module

Answer 1

The error message means that you were not able to reach the SQL Server instance you have specified. This could be due to a number of reasons:

• SQL Server is not running.
• There is no SQL Server on the machine you have specified.
• You have misspelled the server and / or the instance name.
• SQL Server is running is a named instance, but you did not specify an instance name.
• There can be firewalls in the way.

And the list goes on. Since I don't know anything about your environment or what you are trying to connect to, I cannot be more specific.