When I try to connect to a named instance in a SQL SERVER hosted in a azure VM I get this message: A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: -1) The problem is the sql browser is not working properly, when I start the sql browser service it closes after a few seconds and the event log says "There are no instances of SQL Server or SQL Server Analysis Services." But I do have a named instance, I can connect locally to this instance. I've re-installed sql browser and the instance but ii does not work. The host is a azure virtual machine windows server 2008 datacenter. Please help. Thank you