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Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Archived)

SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

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Posted on by Community Member Microsoft Employee

Hi Guys,

A true NAV Newbie here. Any help would be appreciated -

I am installing NAV 2017 on Windows server 2012 R2 (let's call it server A) and trying to configure it to install the demo database on my SQL server (let's call it server B). However, when I click Apply - NAV throw's a warning / error saying 

"The SQL Server instance '' could not be found. A new instance will be created for you. If a compatible version of SQL Server is not found, Setup will install SQL Server Express"

My SQL is a 64bit - 2012 SP3 version (instance name is default MSSQLSERVER) and I tried both the network service and domain account (followed the provisioning the Microsoft NAV server account MSDN post also). Any chance you guys know what I am doing wrong? (Firewall is off on both the machines). SQL is currently configured to run Sharepoint, Dynamics CRM and ADFS - all three seem to be working perfectly fine.

Thanks for your help in advance!

*This post is locked for comments

  • merekama Profile Picture
    merekama 15 on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    on one server(Dynamics NAV SETUP Demo option)

  • Suggested answer
    Inge M. Bruvik Profile Picture
    Inge M. Bruvik 32,748 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    How is your setup?

    Are you trying to install everything on one server or do you try to install a multi server setup?

  • merekama Profile Picture
    merekama 15 on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    I faced the same problem when I try to install dynamics NAV DEMO 2016 .I worked around to solve the problem but i couldn't.

    please any who can help me

    THANKS

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    That worked out because you added Microsoft Dynamics NAV Database Components on the SQL server, if you are installing NAV Server on a separated Server you need to install Dynamics NAV Database Components on the SQL Server.  

  • Verified answer
    Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    Not sure if this would help anyone - but I ended up running setup on the SQL machine - and only installing the database component - which identfied the SQL instance correctly.

    I then ran setup on the NAV server and pointed to the SQL server, and finally gave permissions to the NAV database installed.

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    Suresh, 

    Not sure if this helps, but the NAV instance is visible from my NAV server, but just not visible via the NAV 2017 setup. Screenshot attached. 

    Screen-Shot-2017_2D00_08_2D00_03-at-12.41.34-PM.png

    Thought this information might help?

    Thanks!

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    Suresh,

    The machine is running SQL Sever 2012 Standard (64 BIT) - SP3 - when I install the same version of SQL on the server that is supposed to host NAV - the install can find the default SQL instance and installs the cronus database. I think this issue has to be with either permissions or communication between the servers?

    Thanks.

  • Suresh Kulla Profile Picture
    Suresh Kulla 43,745 on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    Please check the SQL Server requirements

    Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Express, Standard or Enterprise.

    - Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express, Standard or Enterprise.

    - Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 2 Express, Standard, or Enterprise (64-bit editions only).

    - Azure SQL Database V12 Standard and Premium service tiers.

    Make sure you have the compatible version

    msdn.microsoft.com/.../system-requirements-for-microsoft-dynamics-nav

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    Suresh,

    Thanks for your response. I created a new hyper-v installation with a fresh SQL 2012 SP3 install and created a new instance name called NAV.

    When I try the Nav installation and during setup - choose to install the demo database, I put in instance name 'NAV' and the error just changes to:

    "The SQL Server instance 'NAV' could not be found. A new instance will be created for you. If a compatible version of SQL Server is not found, Setup will install SQL Server Express".

    Any thoughts on that? Thanks once again.

  • Suresh Kulla Profile Picture
    Suresh Kulla 43,745 on at
    RE: SQL Server Instance '' could not be found

    By Default NAV will be installing onthe instance name as NAVDEMO, if you already have a SQL Server and you want to use that instance or another instance then you need to specify that in the setup.  Open SQL Configuration manager and get you SQL server and instance details to fill those values.

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