Connectivity

The server was not found or was not accessible (SQL error 40)

Error code: sql-server-not-found

Power BI dataset refresh error — what it means and how to fix it.

What this means

SQL "error 40": wrong instance, server down, remote connections disabled, or a firewall block.

How to fix it

Verify the instance name, that the server is running, and that remote connections are enabled.
Open port 1433 and the SQL Browser service.
Add retries for transient failures.

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Related connectivity errors

DM_GWPipeline_Gateway_DataSourceAccessError
DM_GWPipeline_Gateway_MashupDataAccessError
Login timeout expired
Connection denied — Deny Public Network Access (Azure SQL)
The certificate chain was issued by an authority that is not trusted
The server name doesn't match the SQL Server SSL certificate

Catch this automatically

RefreshRadar monitors every Power BI dataset refresh and alerts you the moment one fails — with the likely cause and the fix — so you never hear about a broken refresh from your stakeholders first.

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