Program Connection Problem

Hi there,
I really hope that someone recognises this problem and can point me in the
direction of a solution.
We have SQL Server 2000 running on a server at our head office. We have a
program that runs in other sites that connect to the server via a VPN
connection HO. The program has been running perfectly for about a year now
without any problems. A few weeks ago, one machine in one of our sites
stopped opening a connection and has refused to open one ever since. We
hadn't had any problems anywhere else so we swapped the machine with a newer
one and thought nothing else about it. However, a couple of days ago another
machine in another site did the same thing. It simply refuses to open a
connection to the server. The error it throws is "SQL Server does not exist
or access denied". This strikes me as strange because he machine can ping
the sql server happily and it has no problems with the rest of its network
connectivity and the connection string uses the server admin user and
password. I've tried changing the machine IP address and HostName but that
has had no effect. The machine is running Windows 98 SE.
Now, I am pretty sure that there is nothing wrong with the program because
it has been running perfectly for ages and hasn't changed for nearly a year.
The program is running on about 20 identical 98 boxes in 15 sites. The first
machine to go was probably the busiest user of the program and this second
one is probably next.
So I'm thinking that this must be a SQL issue but we really don't have
anyone that knows that much about it. What I do know is that, in general,
the server is running ok. The program in question is probably the smallest
data-wise and has very little traffic, we have other much more complex
databases and programs running 24/7 on the server and they are all ok.
So, I guess the leading question is - does anyone have any ideas? Is there
some kind of connection log that has maxed out or something like that?
Any pointers would be fantastic.
Cheers
C-Ya AlyDo client tools like UDL, osql and isql work from this problem machine? Can
this problem client machine ping any other sql servers in your network?
Cheers,
Vikram Jayaram
Microsoft, SQL Server
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