SQL Server Mirroring Error 1418: The server network address “%.*ls” can not be reached or does not exist. Check the network address name and that the ports for the local and remote endpoints are operational.

If you’re using database mirroring in Microsoft SQL Server. Encountering Error 1418, which signifies that the Principal and mirror server are unable to communicate is quite common.

Database mirroring is a technique used to create and maintain a warm standby copy of a SQL Server database. It creates a copy of the database on a secondary server and keeping it synchronized with the primary server. If the primary server fails, the secondary server can take over and become the new primary server, minimizing downtime.

In this case, the error is caused by an incorrect port number in the mirroring endpoint configuration.

The mirroring endpoint is a communication endpoint used by SQL Server to send and receive messages between the primary and secondary servers in a mirroring session.

If the port number specified in the endpoint configuration is incorrect, the endpoint will be unable to connect to the partner server, resulting in Error 1418.

To resolve this issue, you’ll need to make sure that the port number specified in the endpoint configuration is correct. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the primary server.
  2. Right-click the database you want to mirror and select “Tasks” > “Mirror”.
  3. In the “Configure Database Mirroring Security Wizard”, select the option to “Configure Security”.
  4. On the “Service Accounts” page, make sure that the account used for the SQL Server service is specified.
  5. On the “Endpoints” page, check the port number specified for the mirroring endpoint. Make sure that it matches the port number specified for the mirroring endpoint on the partner server.
  6. If the port number is incorrect, correct it and click “Next” to continue with the wizard.
  7. Once the wizard completes, the database mirroring session starts. The secondary server is now able to connect to the primary server using the correct port number.

In conclusion, Error 1418 can occur in SQL Server database mirroring if the mirroring endpoint is unable to connect to the partner server. One common cause of this error is an incorrect port number specified in the mirroring endpoint configuration. To fix this issue, you’ll need to make sure that the port number specified in the endpoint configuration is correct. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to resolve this error and keep your database mirroring session up and running smoothly.