SQL server is not able to connect

Question

Helly everyone,

I am new here. I have read a lot of topics and sometimes it helped a lot! But I can't find the other issue....

I have installed a SQL server 2008 R2 on my client. An other server is installed on a server (SQL 2005).

I want to make a replication between this two machines. On the SQL 2005 server I made a publisher. Then I want to make a subscriber. 
If I want to make a subscriber it gives an error. The selected Subscriber does not satisfy the minimum version compatibility level of the selected publication. 
I have found a the solution in this forum and it says I have to make a subscriber on the 2008 box. So I connect with the IP adres in the 2008 box and I make a subscriber. The machine gives another error. Connection through a server alias, IP adress, or any other other alternate name are not supported. Specify the actual server name, 'servername' (replication.utilities).

So I disconect the server and I want to connect the 'servername'. Another error I got: A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL server.

If I try to connect from the 2005 server to the 2008 server it works through a instance name. But if I try to make a connection from 2008 to 2005 instance name it don't work (with IP address it works but then I can't make a subscriber).

I hope someone can help and I hope you will understand what I am trying to do.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Things I have tried to solve the problem

Changing ports 1433

Firewall disabling

Adding aliases http://blogs.technet.com/b/anurag_sharma/archive/2008/06/11/replication-over-firewall.aspx
I also tried this solution, but it doesn't work:(

Remote Connection enabled on SQL Server

Enable SQL server browser

TCP/IP and Named Pipes enabled in configuration

Re-start the SQL Server

Answer 2

change the port number of sql server 2008 , from configuration manager, then dont forget to add the port numer is expection in your firewall and anti virus if installed, it works

Answer 3

Why do I have to change the port number? I have disabled firewall on both machines. 

I have made an exception on the publisher with port 1433.

Answer 4

Is it really possible to make a replication from 2005 to 2008?

Answer 5

It is possible to replicate between 2005 and 2008 but there are some considerations to make.  The details are covered in Using Multiple Versions of SQL Server in a Replication Topology.

Regarding the connection issue, ensure that your browser service is running on the subscriber.

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Brandon Williams (blog | linkedin)

Answer 6

The connection issue isn't solved yet. My browser service is running on both servers....

I have tried to make alias but it still does not work.

select @@servername 
publisher: IC-SR-CPI-TT-01
subscriber: IC-LT-DRHQH3J

If I go to configuration manager -> protocols for sqlserver -> right-click tcp/ip both port 1433

I made on the publisher the next alias
Alias name: IC-LT-DRHQH3J
Port No: 1433
Protocol: TCP/IP
Server: IC-LT-DRHQH3J