SQL Server communication between VirtualBox images

I have a WinXP host with VirtualBox 3.1.2 installed. I have a VirtualBox image called "hydrogen" on which I installed WinXP and MS SQL Server 2005 Express. I have开发者_JAVA百科 another VirtualBox image called "helium" on which I installed WinXP. I am trying to create a ODBC DSN on "helium" that connects to SQL Server on "hydrogen" but it fails.

All of the documentation I've seen so far only says to use a "bridged adapter" in my VirtualBox image settings. I've done that but I still don't have communication.

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The express edition does not listen on remote ports by default. You can enable remote connections using the "Surface Area Configuration Tool" or by running this SQL script:

exec sys.sp_configure N'remote access', N'1'
go
reconfigure with override
go

Also, if you use a bridged adapter, your virtual boxes are sharing your host's IP address. That means you'll have to configure both instances of SQL Server on a separate port.

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I've gone through a couple of tweaks and changes and I have it working. My environment:

Host:

• WinXP Pro
• SQL Server 2005

Guest "Hydrogen":

• WinXP Pro
• SQL Server 2005
• Network Adapter #1: NAT
• Network Adapter #2: Bridged

Guest "Helium":

• WinXP Pro
• Network Adapter #1: NAT
• Network Adapter #2: Bridged

On "Hydrogen", I ran the Network Setup wizard, specifying that it was part of a network that did not have an internet connect (part of the "Other" option). I rebooted "Hydrogen".

On "Helium", I ran the Network Setup wizard, specifying taht it ws part of a network that did not have an internet connect (part of the "Other" option). I rebooted "Helium".

I turned off the firewall on "Hydrogen".

I can now connect to SQL Server on "Hydrogen" from both "Helium" and my host. Some of these settings may be extraneous; I don't know. But I know it's working for me reliably now, even after rebooting the host.