Question regarding SQL Express and Connection Strings

Hello everyone!

I am having some more problems while trying to get my site online. I built the site offline using Visual Web Developer Express Edition, and used "SQL Server Express" that comes with ASP.Net. Therefore, I have the ASPNETDB.mdf and mydatabase.mdf in the App_Data folder. Now, on my local machine everything runs fine. When I tried to put the site online however, I get the following error:

An error has occurred while establishing a connection tothe server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may becaused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does notallow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26- Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

This is the connection string in my web.config file:

<connectionStrings>
<add name="ConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\mydatabase.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
</connectionStrings>

Now, my web-host does have SQL Server 2005. Does my ASP.Net application use that though, since I have it running just through SQL EXPRESS? Also, does anyone know where I could change my "SQL Server 2005" settings? My web-host uses Plesk 8.2.0, and the database managing program is "ASP.Net Enterprise Manager", but I can't find any options anywhere to change the Server settings to allow remote connections.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance,

Markuu

You will need to upsize from the sql 2005 express to sql 2005 databases or database.

A good guide to the steps needed is at

http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2006/12/22/recipe-deploying-a-sql-database-to-a-remote-hosting-environment-part-1.aspx

Hope it helps

|||

I don't believe Remote Connections is the issue. The error message clearly states that it could not find the instance of Sql Server that is specified in Data Source part of your connection string - (local)\SQLEXPRESS. That part is the address and name of the Sql Server you are trying to attach to. It's highly improbable that the instance you are using in a hosted environment is called SQLEXPRESS (which is the default name given to instances of Sql Server Express).

I'm not familiar with Plesk or your management system, but usually Web hosting companies will give you an instance that uses something like your user name, or account name. They should also provide a sample connection string and some guidance in a FAQ somewhere. If you can't find it, contact their support.

General connection string related stuff can be found here: www.connectionstrings.com

Question regarding size of varchar field

Hi,
I am using MSDE together with Enterprise Manager.
I have a table with a field nameddescription.
This field will be filled by a web forms's textbox web control.
The textbox'smaxsize attribute is set to "3000" characters.
What size do I have to adjust for my DB fielddescription?
Is the size of3000 in Enterpise Manager equal to3000 characters for the textbox?
I am just trying to avoid errors if MSDE cuts off the string that comes from the textbox webcontrol.Yes, you should set the width of your varchar column to 3000. This unit of measurement is actually bytes, but each character takes 1byte to store, so in effect the column can hold 3000 characters..
|||

I'm answering a question you didn't ask, but maxsize doesn't work if your textbox is multi-line. I just assumed it would be if you allowed that much in it. If you want to limit a multi-line textbox, you need to use a regular expression validator to do it.

|||Thanks for letting me know - and you are right... the texbox is indeed multi-line.
Maybe you can answer my question I have asked in another thread addressing a regular expression issue I am currently faced with - I am still waiting for some helpers there ...
This is the thread:
http://forums.asp.net/937464/ShowPost.aspx|||One more point is if you will use unicode (nvarchar or nchar data type), then physical size for a character will be doubled which means 2 bytes for a character.
If you run
sp_help TableName
you will see "Length" column which keeps physical length of column in bytes

Question on SQL Server 2000 installation

I am trying to install on SQL Server 2000 on Windows server 2003, web
edition. When I click on autorun, then choose server tools and components and
choose Install Server, nothing happens.
I was wondering if it possible to install SQL Server 2000 on Windows Server
2003 web edition. Is this a compatibility issue'
Thank you.
VamsheeWindows Server 2003 Web Server Edition will not allow you to install SQL
Server 2000. It is not a licensed configuration.
--
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com
I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org
"Vamshee" <Vamshee@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:56A57D60-720F-4512-AA27-53045E73DD7C@.microsoft.com...
> I am trying to install on SQL Server 2000 on Windows server 2003, web
> edition. When I click on autorun, then choose server tools and components
and
> choose Install Server, nothing happens.
> I was wondering if it possible to install SQL Server 2000 on Windows
Server
> 2003 web edition. Is this a compatibility issue'
> Thank you.
> Vamshee|||Hi,
Organizations cannot use Windows Server 2003, Web Edition, to deploy
Microsoft SQL Server.
See the below link (Limitations paragraph):-
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/web.mspx
Thanks
Hari
SQL Server MVP
"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:
> Windows Server 2003 Web Server Edition will not allow you to install SQL
> Server 2000. It is not a licensed configuration.
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
> Senior Database Administrator
> Careerbuilder.com
> I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
> www.sqlpass.org
> "Vamshee" <Vamshee@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:56A57D60-720F-4512-AA27-53045E73DD7C@.microsoft.com...
> > I am trying to install on SQL Server 2000 on Windows server 2003, web
> > edition. When I click on autorun, then choose server tools and components
> and
> > choose Install Server, nothing happens.
> >
> > I was wondering if it possible to install SQL Server 2000 on Windows
> Server
> > 2003 web edition. Is this a compatibility issue'
> >
> > Thank you.
> > Vamshee
>
>|||Thanks for the information.
"Hari Prasad" wrote:
> Hi,
> Organizations cannot use Windows Server 2003, Web Edition, to deploy
> Microsoft SQL Server.
> See the below link (Limitations paragraph):-
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/web.mspx
> Thanks
> Hari
> SQL Server MVP
>
> "Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:
> > Windows Server 2003 Web Server Edition will not allow you to install SQL
> > Server 2000. It is not a licensed configuration.
> >
> > --
> > Geoff N. Hiten
> > Microsoft SQL Server MVP
> > Senior Database Administrator
> > Careerbuilder.com
> >
> > I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
> > www.sqlpass.org
> >
> > "Vamshee" <Vamshee@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:56A57D60-720F-4512-AA27-53045E73DD7C@.microsoft.com...
> > > I am trying to install on SQL Server 2000 on Windows server 2003, web
> > > edition. When I click on autorun, then choose server tools and components
> > and
> > > choose Install Server, nothing happens.
> > >
> > > I was wondering if it possible to install SQL Server 2000 on Windows
> > Server
> > > 2003 web edition. Is this a compatibility issue'
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > > Vamshee
> >
> >
> >sql

Question on Report Builder

I am launching the Report Builder from my web application. The launching works fine. The Report Builder displays all the models published on the Report Server, whereas the user launching the report builder doesnt have permission on most of the folders containing the models. The permission set on the folders individually (not inherit from parent) using Management Studio.

The Report Server and the Report Builder folder under that both are running with Integrated Windows Authentication.

Is there anything am missing to check ? I want the user should be able to see only those models, which he/she has been given permission to access.

For info, the web application from where the Report Builder is launched is using Forms Authentication. So, Anonymous Access is enabled. If this is the problem, can I create a separate web page and inside a folder (under website) and apply Integrated Windows Authentication to the folder and launch Report Builder from the web page. Will it work ?

Thanks in advance.

Users will only see the models to which they have been granted the View Models permission (part of the the Browser and Report Builder roles by default), with two exceptions:

1. Members of the local administrators group will always see all models on the Report Server regardless of permission settings.

2. If you launch Report Builder as a given user, then change the group membership of that user and re-launch the application, you will not see any changes in behavior because ClickOnce actually started a background process the first time around called dfsvc.exe, and this process is what actually launches the application both times. Since the background process doesn't get restarted, it is still running with the original security token, and is unaware of the change in group membership. In my experience, if you just kill the dfsvc.exe process and re-launch your application, everything works as expected the next time around.

|||This all sounds great, how do I, from my own website, launch report builder as a known user?|||

Hi,

Did you have luck in launching the report builder from your site with a specific user security? I am also having the same challenge.

Any help will be appreciated.

|||

Rajeeb,

May I ask you a question,

How do you setup the access right to enable the users only see their folders.

say for user A, he can only see Folder A

User B, can only see Folder B.

Folder A and B should be subfolders of Home. I tried to do it. but if I don't give user A the access to Home, it won't show report builder icon on the web page when I log in as user A.

Thanks

Jack

|||Hi Jack,

You can setup access rights as per your example either after you login to Reporting Services using Management Studio or from Report Manager. You have to give permission to both A and B on Home, then in Folder A and B properties, remove the other user (dont follow the option of inheriting access rights from parent folder).

We have already moved on to implement Forms Authentication and handle security our own way. Our web application and report manager works perfectly fine. But, Report Builder using Forms Authentication has so many issues. We havent been successfully implement it yet, its been almost one year now.

I have put many topics on Report Builder using forms authentication but noone replies (just do a search on Report Builder Forms authentication). Its been really frustrating. Imagine after going live with 2 clients on same report server, having problem with Report Builder. We are stuck and nowhere now. We made a big mistake of selling the features of adhoc reports.

My suggestion is, wait for future releases (unless you are in a hurry).

Thanks.
|||

Rajeeb,

Thank you for your reply.

Could you please tell me what right you give user A and B on the Home folder. It seems to me you have to give them content manager right. otherwise the report builder icon won't show on the report manager web page.

Thank you for your help

Jack

Question on Report Builder

I am launching the Report Builder from my web application. The launching works fine. The Report Builder displays all the models published on the Report Server, whereas the user launching the report builder doesnt have permission on most of the folders containing the models. The permission set on the folders individually (not inherit from parent) using Management Studio.

The Report Server and the Report Builder folder under that both are running with Integrated Windows Authentication.

Is there anything am missing to check ? I want the user should be able to see only those models, which he/she has been given permission to access.

For info, the web application from where the Report Builder is launched is using Forms Authentication. So, Anonymous Access is enabled. If this is the problem, can I create a separate web page and inside a folder (under website) and apply Integrated Windows Authentication to the folder and launch Report Builder from the web page. Will it work ?

Thanks in advance.

Users will only see the models to which they have been granted the View Models permission (part of the the Browser and Report Builder roles by default), with two exceptions:

1. Members of the local administrators group will always see all models on the Report Server regardless of permission settings.

2. If you launch Report Builder as a given user, then change the group membership of that user and re-launch the application, you will not see any changes in behavior because ClickOnce actually started a background process the first time around called dfsvc.exe, and this process is what actually launches the application both times. Since the background process doesn't get restarted, it is still running with the original security token, and is unaware of the change in group membership. In my experience, if you just kill the dfsvc.exe process and re-launch your application, everything works as expected the next time around.

|||This all sounds great, how do I, from my own website, launch report builder as a known user?|||

Hi,

Did you have luck in launching the report builder from your site with a specific user security? I am also having the same challenge.

Any help will be appreciated.

|||

Rajeeb,

May I ask you a question,

How do you setup the access right to enable the users only see their folders.

say for user A, he can only see Folder A

User B, can only see Folder B.

Folder A and B should be subfolders of Home. I tried to do it. but if I don't give user A the access to Home, it won't show report builder icon on the web page when I log in as user A.

Thanks

Jack

|||Hi Jack,

You can setup access rights as per your example either after you login to Reporting Services using Management Studio or from Report Manager. You have to give permission to both A and B on Home, then in Folder A and B properties, remove the other user (dont follow the option of inheriting access rights from parent folder).

We have already moved on to implement Forms Authentication and handle security our own way. Our web application and report manager works perfectly fine. But, Report Builder using Forms Authentication has so many issues. We havent been successfully implement it yet, its been almost one year now.

I have put many topics on Report Builder using forms authentication but noone replies (just do a search on Report Builder Forms authentication). Its been really frustrating. Imagine after going live with 2 clients on same report server, having problem with Report Builder. We are stuck and nowhere now. We made a big mistake of selling the features of adhoc reports.

My suggestion is, wait for future releases (unless you are in a hurry).

Thanks.|||

Rajeeb,

Thank you for your reply.

Could you please tell me what right you give user A and B on the Home folder. It seems to me you have to give them content manager right. otherwise the report builder icon won't show on the report manager web page.

Thank you for your help

Jack

Question on Report Builder

I am launching the Report Builder from my web application. The launching works fine. The Report Builder displays all the models published on the Report Server, whereas the user launching the report builder doesnt have permission on most of the folders containing the models. The permission set on the folders individually (not inherit from parent) using Management Studio.

The Report Server and the Report Builder folder under that both are running with Integrated Windows Authentication.

Is there anything am missing to check ? I want the user should be able to see only those models, which he/she has been given permission to access.

For info, the web application from where the Report Builder is launched is using Forms Authentication. So, Anonymous Access is enabled. If this is the problem, can I create a separate web page and inside a folder (under website) and apply Integrated Windows Authentication to the folder and launch Report Builder from the web page. Will it work ?

Thanks in advance.

Users will only see the models to which they have been granted the View Models permission (part of the the Browser and Report Builder roles by default), with two exceptions:

1. Members of the local administrators group will always see all models on the Report Server regardless of permission settings.

2. If you launch Report Builder as a given user, then change the group membership of that user and re-launch the application, you will not see any changes in behavior because ClickOnce actually started a background process the first time around called dfsvc.exe, and this process is what actually launches the application both times. Since the background process doesn't get restarted, it is still running with the original security token, and is unaware of the change in group membership. In my experience, if you just kill the dfsvc.exe process and re-launch your application, everything works as expected the next time around.

|||This all sounds great, how do I, from my own website, launch report builder as a known user?|||

Hi,

Did you have luck in launching the report builder from your site with a specific user security? I am also having the same challenge.

Any help will be appreciated.

|||

Rajeeb,

May I ask you a question,

How do you setup the access right to enable the users only see their folders.

say for user A, he can only see Folder A

User B, can only see Folder B.

Folder A and B should be subfolders of Home. I tried to do it. but if I don't give user A the access to Home, it won't show report builder icon on the web page when I log in as user A.

Thanks

Jack

|||Hi Jack,

You can setup access rights as per your example either after you login to Reporting Services using Management Studio or from Report Manager. You have to give permission to both A and B on Home, then in Folder A and B properties, remove the other user (dont follow the option of inheriting access rights from parent folder).

We have already moved on to implement Forms Authentication and handle security our own way. Our web application and report manager works perfectly fine. But, Report Builder using Forms Authentication has so many issues. We havent been successfully implement it yet, its been almost one year now.

I have put many topics on Report Builder using forms authentication but noone replies (just do a search on Report Builder Forms authentication). Its been really frustrating. Imagine after going live with 2 clients on same report server, having problem with Report Builder. We are stuck and nowhere now. We made a big mistake of selling the features of adhoc reports.

My suggestion is, wait for future releases (unless you are in a hurry).

Thanks.|||

Rajeeb,

Thank you for your reply.

Could you please tell me what right you give user A and B on the Home folder. It seems to me you have to give them content manager right. otherwise the report builder icon won't show on the report manager web page.

Thank you for your help

Jack

Question on Enterprise Mgr & Muyltiple Web SQL2000 DB

I have 5 DB that I want to access from EM on a semishare server with same IP.

Once I add the IP & also the Logon/password then a new one can not be added as a message shows that IP already exists.

Is the only solution to not add the Logon/password and enter them every time?

Any link to other threads that explain would be helpful.I'm a bit confused. Are all 5 databasese on the same server? Once you register that server in EM all of the databases on that server will be accessible. So you should be able to drill down and find your 5 databases.

Terri|||each database has a different Logon and password. I can see all of them and the others on the semi dedicated svr but if I check the box to save ID/pw then I am restricted to only 1 db.