When running the SQL database version of Kennel Connection, SQL and SQL Browser must be excluded from the Firewall in order for your workstations to connect. Do the following steps.
Exclude sqlservr.exe and sqlbrowser.exe from the server only.
Windows 7: Click on Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall.
Windows 8/10: Click the start menu button and start typing "control" without the quotes and choose Control Panel from the search results. Choose "Windows Firewall" from inside the control panel.
In the Windows Firewall, click on "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall".
Click the "Change Settings" button and then click on "Allow another app...".
Click on the "Browse" button and then navigate to the sqlservr.exe file.
Sqlservr.exe is located here: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.Instance\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe
Select the sqlservr.exe file from the list and click OK. Click on "Allow another app..." again. Click Browse and now navigate to the sqlbrowser.exe file.
Sqlbrowser exe is located here:
Windows 32 bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe
Windows 64 bit: C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe
**Hint: If you see a Program Files (x86) folder at all, this means you have a 64 bit Windows. Go into the x86 version of the Program Files.**
Please note that sometimes even if you have Windows Firewall turned off/disabled, these exclusions still may need to be in place to allow workstations to connect