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How to: Connect to a Report Server in Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides Object Explorer, which allows you to connect to any server in the SQL Server family and graphically browse its contents. For Reporting Services, you can use Object Explorer to do the following:

  • Enable report server features.

  • Set server defaults and configure role definitions.

  • Manage jobs that are running.

  • Manage job schedules.

You can connect to a native mode report server or a report server that runs in SharePoint integrated mode. Connection syntax and the types of operations you can perform will vary depending on the server mode of the report server and your permissions. If you have trouble connecting to a report server or performing specific tasks, it might be that you have insufficient permissions or you specified the report server name incorrectly. For more information about permissions and connection syntax, see the table at the end of this topic.

Note that you cannot use Object Explorer to view or manage report server content. Content management is performed through Report Manager if the report server runs in native mode or through a SharePoint site if the report server runs in SharePoint integrated mode.

Object Explorer allows you to open connections to multiple server instances in the same workspace as along as the servers are registered in the same server group. Before you can connect to a report server instance in Management Studio, the server must be registered. If the report server is already registered, you can skip this step. Instructions for registering report servers are provided at the end of this topic.

Tip

If the Properties menu item for a report server is disabled when you open SSMS, the most likely cause is the operating system is configured with User Account Control (UAC) enabled. You will need to start SSMS as an administrator by right-clicking the SSMS icon and clicking Run as administrator.

To connect to a native mode report server

  1. If Object Explorer is not already open it, select it from the View menu.

  2. Click Connect to view the list of server types, and then select Reporting Services.

  3. In the Connect to Server dialog box, enter the name of the report server instance. Report server instance names are based on SQL Server instance names. By default, the instance name of a local report server instance is just the computer name. If you installed the report server as a named instance, use this syntax to specify the server: <servername>[\<instancename>].

  4. Select the authentication type. If you are using Windows Authentication, you must connect using your credentials. If you select Basic authentication or Forms authentication, type the account and password.

  5. Click Connect. The report server appears in Object Explorer.

  6. Right-click the server node to set system properties and server defaults. For more information, see How to: Set Report Server Properties (Management Studio).

To connect to a SharePoint integrated mode report server

  1. If Object Explorer is not already open it, select it from the View menu.

  2. Click Connect to view the list of server types, and then select Reporting Services.

  3. In the Connect to Server dialog box, enter a URL to a SharePoint site. The following example illustrates the syntax: http://<web server>/sites/<site>.

  4. Select the authentication type. If you are using Windows Authentication, you must connect using your credentials. If you select Basic authentication or Forms authentication, type the account and password.

  5. Click Connect. The report server appears in Object Explorer.

  6. Right-click the server node to set system properties and server defaults. For more information, see How to: Set Report Server Properties (Management Studio).

To register a report server

  1. If you cannot connect to a report server, you either do not have permission to access it or it must be registered. To register the server, click Registered Servers on the View menu,

  2. Click the Reporting Services icon.

  3. Right-click Reporting Services, point to New, and then click Server Registration. The New Server Registration dialog box is displayed.

  4. For Server name, enter a value. The value that you must specify will vary depending on the server mode:

    • For a native mode report server, type the name of the report server instance. Report server instance names are based on SQL Server instance names. By default, the instance name of a local report server instance is just the computer name. If you installed the report server as a named instance, use this syntax to specify the server: <servername>[\<instancename>].

    • For a report server that runs in SharePoint integrated mode, the server to connect to is the SharePoint site with which the report server is connected. Connecting to the SharePoint site is necessary so that you can view the permission levels that control access to report server content and operations. You can specify any site in the site collection. The following example illustrates the syntax: http://mysharepointsite.

  5. For Authentication, select which authentication mode to use to access the Web server. You must choose the authentication mode that the report server is already using.

    • If you are using default security, choose Windows Authentication.

    • If you installed and deployed a custom security extension, choose Forms Authentication.

    • If you configured the report server to use Basic authentication, choose Basic Authentication.

    • If the report server is configured for SharePoint integrated mode, choose Windows Authentication.

  6. Click Test to verify the connection.

  7. When prompted, click OK, and then click Save.

Connection Syntax and Permissions

The following table summarizes the connection syntax, operations, and permissions required to perform specific operations.

When you specify Reporting Services as the Server Type in the Connect to Server dialog box, you can specify either a report server name or an endpoint to the Web service.

Connect to

Tasks

Permissions

Native mode report server, connected as the default or named instance:

<server name><_instance>

The connection to the report server is made through the Report Server WMI provider.

  • View and set server properties and defaults.

  • View and cancel jobs.

  • Create and manage shared schedules.

  • Create, modify, or delete role definitions.

Assigned to the System Administrator role.

Native mode report server, connected as the default or named instance, through the endpoint to the Report Server Web service:

http://<servername>/reportserver

Specifying a URL to the report server provides an alternate way to connect to the report server.

  • View and set server properties and defaults.

  • View and cancel jobs.

  • Create and manage shared schedules.

  • Create, modify, or delete role definitions.

Assigned to the System Administrator role.

SharePoint integrated mode report server, connected through the SharePoint site:

http://<webserver>/<SharePointSite>

  • View and set server properties and defaults.

  • View and cancel jobs.

  • Create and manage shared schedules defined for the site to which you are connected.

  • View the permission levels defined for the site to which you are connected.

Full Control level of permission on the SharePoint site to which you are connected.

SharePoint integrated mode report server, connected through the name of the report server instance:

<server name><_instance>

  • View and set server properties and defaults.

  • View and cancel jobs.

Full Control level of permission on the SharePoint site that is integrated with the report server.

Notice that when you connect to the report server rather than the SharePoint site, the number of tasks that you can perform is significantly reduced. This is because the report server can only return application data that is stored or managed in the report server database, and not in the SharePoint configuration and content databases.

Change History

Updated content

Added note that SSMS should be run as an administrator.