The database backend (provider SQLServer) could not be reached.

[YAG]

No matter what I do, I can't get a remote client to work (on same network using my linksys router between client computer and server machine)
The repeated error in the error log is "The database backend (provider SQLServer) could not be reached."
I have:
* disabled firewalls everywhere
* enabled surface connections for local and remote connections (TCP and named pipes)
* verified that I can connect to the server machine with a client installed on it.

I installed on the client comuputer 0.2, then SVN, then plugin.
Anything I am missing???


MediaPortal Version: 0.2+SVN+plugin
MediaPortal Skin: Blue Two
Windows Version: XP
CPU Type: AMD3200+
HDD: 320GB SATA
Memory: 512MB
Motherboard: ASUS
Video Card: NVIDIA 7300
1. TV Card: TV-PVR500


::deleted by infinityloop::

[infinityloop]

when you installed the tv-server, after the first startup it asked you for the IP/Hostname of the SQL server.
what have you entered there? 127.0.0.1?

is the serverside tool (setuptv) working?

note:
attach your logfiles to your post. do not paste the text of the logfiles please.

[wishywashy]

Started the SQL browser (can't remember the exact name) on the server?

Ok, I found it in the Wiki. Some "fine print" at the bottom:

Enable Local and remote connections and select Using both TCP/IP and named pipes.

note: You may have to restart the SQL server.

Change the SQL browser service to automatic and start it

[YAG]

Ok...
attached log file
When I installed the client on the server machine I am not sure what I entered, but when I go to mediaportal.xml I see under host the name of the computer it's running on (yag-media). (should I have entered 127.0.0.1?)
The tvsetup program does work
Everything seems to work fine on the server machine, just not on the client on another computer...

I tried obviously restarting the services.

Any new ideas?

[infinityloop]

If you are using a client - server configuration (clients in the LAN connect to the server PC) then you have to enter the Hostname or the REAL IP-Adress.

When you start the SetupTV application from the TV-Server the first time and you enter 127.0.0.1/SQLEXPRESS then you have a problem.
why?

When you start MyTV on the client the first time, you have to enter the IP-Adress of the Server. i.e. 192.168.123.10
Now the client connects to the server (192.168.123.10) and the server tells the Client the Hostname/IP-Adress) of the SQL-Server.
So if you have entered 127.0.0.1, the TV-Server will forward this adress to the Client.
Which means the Client will "think" that the SQL-Server is installed localy on the Client. so he can not connect.

Have a look @ your TV-Server installation and fin the Gentle.config. there you will find the IP-Adress you entered after the first startup.
You must enter the real IP-Adress or the Hostname.

[YAG]

Thank you infinityloop for bearing with me.
I got frustrated, so I completely uninstalled MP/TV Server/Plugin, deleted the directories and fully reinstalled.

The process I went through was: install MP0.2, TV Server, Plugin, XMLTV - all on the same machine.
Only after the entire process did I enter TV Setup - which works fine, picks up channels from XMLTV etc...
When I run MP it does NOT ask for an IP address - it just works (I can see TV and channels get updated).

When I run MP on another machine I STILL get the same errors communicating with the SQL server.

I entered gentle.config file (attached) and found 127.0.0.1 - changed it to the proper IP address. Still same error.

Help...

[infinityloop]

When you entered MyTV on the client the first time, did you get to the screen which asked you for the IP/hostname of the tv-server?
when do get to that screen, MediaPortal is creating the following entry in MediaPortal.xml

Originally Posted by MedaPortal.xml

<section name="tvservice">
<entry name="hostname">=IP-OF-YOUR-SERVER</entry>
</section>

------------------------------

in gentle.config you have to check this line:

Originally Posted by gentle.config

<DefaultProvider name="SQLServer" connectionString="Password=abraxas;Persist Security Info=True;User ID=sa;Initial Catalog=TvLibrary;Data Source=IP-OF-YOUR-SERVER\SQLEXPRESS;" />

[YAG]

OK... Nothing seems to work.
I completely reinstalled the server machine:
uninstalled TVServer
uninstalled MP
uninstalled plugin
Deleted the sql database

When I start the client on the master machine I am NOT asked for the server IP address. I go to My plugins, start TV and it works. The gentle.config file does NOT contain the IP address and neither does mediaportal.xml.
I added the entries in them as advised, with the IP address etc... - still no luck.
I always get unable to connect to SQL server from the client machine...
I have no idea what next...

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by YAG

OK... Nothing seems to work.
I completely reinstalled the server machine:
uninstalled TVServer
uninstalled MP
uninstalled plugin
Deleted the sql database

When I start the client on the master machine I am NOT asked for the server IP address. I go to My plugins, start TV and it works. The gentle.config file does NOT contain the IP address and neither does mediaportal.xml.
I added the entries in them as advised, with the IP address etc... - still no luck.
I always get unable to connect to SQL server from the client machine...
I have no idea what next...

based on that post, i think that your installation steps are wrong.

1. install SQL 2005 Express
2. install SQL Management Studio
3. enable the local connections with the SQL Management Studio
4. install TV-Server
5. start the tv server with the following link on your desktop MediaPortal Tv Server
6. a new window opens where you should allready see the correct hostname entered.
7. enter your password for the SA user of your SQL express installation.
8. click TEST
9. if the test of the SQL connection worked, then click OKAY
10. now you will get a pop up "TV-Service is not running, should it be started?"
11. click YES
12. now configure the Server (autotune ect)
13. then close the TV-Server config application with the OK button
14. Install MediaPortal
15. apply the latest public svn build
16. install the tv-server client plugin
17. start mediaportal
18. the setup wizzard is displayed
19. configure mediaportal
20. start mediaportal after you configured it
21. enter MyTV
22. after a few seconds you will see a screen which asks you for the ip/hostname of the server
23. enter the hostname or ip of the server
24. watch tv

with this step by step description it has to work.

[YAG]

I uninstalled everything, followed the instructions, yet when I run mediaportal on the server machine I do not get asked for an IP address - it just works (shows TV).

There is one thing I wanted to verify in your installation process - when you say configure TVServer and Configure Mediaportal:
1. When configuring TVserver I do not scan for channels, but rather add them from the XMLTV file plugin
2. When I first run mediaportal I essentially configure nothing (TV channels scan etc...) I expect these to be read from the TVserver
3. When I start mediaportal there is therefor no My TV - My TV is under My Plugins correct?

Again, on the server machine, the client works - but does not imply anywhere that it is using a server/ip address/host name. On the other machine running the client only with the server plugin I get nothing - only SQL connection errors in the log file.

Even after modifying gentle.config and mediaportal.xml to include the TVserver info I get the same old can't connect to SQL server.

Thanks for the help...