title: How to resolve Firebird "unavailable database" error on a remote database?
body: <p>I have a Firebird 2.0 database running on a remote Windows XP PC.<br>
  Using the ADO.net connection provider, I configure the connection as follows:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Dim x As New FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient.FbConnectionStringBuilder
  x.Database = "[hostname]:FileShare:/db/REMOTE_SVR.FDB"
  x.UserID = "SYSDBA"
  x.Password = "masterkey"
  
  Dim y As New FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient.FbConnection(x.ConnectionString)
  y.Open()
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Attempting to open the connection raises an <code>FbException</code>, with the message "unavailable database".</p>
  
  <p>Downloading the ODBC drivers and attempting to connect with those settings produces the same error message.</p>
  
  <p>I have copied the database file to my development environment and verified that I can connect to <code>x.Database = "c:\testdb\REMOTE_SVR.FDB"</code> with these settings (with a local install of Firebird 2.0 Server).</p>
  
  <p>I have confirmed that the Firebird 2.0 Server is running on the remote PC. The fileshare in which the DB is located doesn't require any login or permissions.</p>
  
  <p>I'm probably doing something dumb, but I'm out of ideas.</p>