First thing to point out is SQL Express is NOT supported environment but for testing purposes on my own laptop the following steps were needed:
- Start SQL Server Configuration Manager
- Go to Client Protocols and enable TCP/IP and Named Pipes
- Go to Protocols for SQLEXPRESS and enable TCP/IP and Named Pipes
- Then double click TCP/IP to go into its properties, click IP adresses tab, scroll to botton for IPAll group
- Make TCP dynamic ports setting to be blank
- Make TCP port to be 1433
- In cognos configuration you can then select SQL Server and localhost:1433 for database settings
