I've just brought up a new installation of SQL Server 2008. I installed the default instance as well as one named instance.

I'm having a problem connecting to the named instance from anywhere besides the server itself with any user besides 'sa'.

I am running in mixed mode. I have a login/user that has a known username. Using that user/login, I can properly connect when directly on the server.

When I attempt to login from anywhere else, I recieve a "Login failed for user ''", with Error 18456. In the log file in the server, I see a reason that doesn't seem to help: "Reason: Could not find a login matching the name provided.". However, that user/login DOES exist, as I can use it locally.

There are no further details about the error. Where can I start to find something to help me with this? I've tried deleting and recreating the user, as well as just creating a new one from scratch--same result, locally fine, remotely an error.

EDIT: Partially Resolved.

I'm now passed the base issue--the clients were trying to connect via the default instance. I don't know why. So, once proper ports were opened in the firewall, and a static port assigned to the named instance, I can now connect--BUT ONLY if I specify the connection as Server,Port. SQLBrowser is apparently not helping/working in this case. I've verified it IS running, and done a stop/restart after my config changes, but no difference yet.