I have a series of SQL Server instances that I need to connect to from inside a docker container using SQLCMD. These target SQL Server instances frustratingly have different versions with some on Windows Server 2012 and some on Windows Server 2003. When I try to connect to the Windows Server 2012 instances and execute sql commands using a command such as sqlcmd -S IP_Address,Port_No -U username -P password -i input_file.sql, it works perfectly. When I try the same for the Windows Server 2003 instances, I get the following error:
Sqlcmd: Error: Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server : Login timeout expired.
Sqlcmd: Error: Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server : TCP Provider: Error code 0x2AF9.
Sqlcmd: Error: Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server : A network-related or instance-specific error has occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. Server is not found or not accessible. Check if instance name is correct and if SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. For more information see SQL Server Books Online..
Is this just a situation where the connection syntax changes for Windows Server 2003? I have tried many different tweaks to the connection string but each returns the same message? Is SQLCMD even supported for Windows Server 2003? I would really appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.