Configuring a Remote Instance of SQL Server

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Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) requires a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 database to store the information you view in the VMM Administrator Console. You must set up the VMM database during the VMM server setup.

If you use a remote instance of SQL Server 2005 for the VMM database, there are additional steps you need to perform when setting up the VMM database. These steps are described in the following sections.

Configuring the VMM Database Setup

In the Virtual Machine Manager Server Setup Wizard, on the SQL Server Settings page, if you choose to use a remote instance of SQL Server:

  • The user account you enter must be a member of the sysadmin server role on the remote instance of SQL Server that you specify.
  • The SQL Server name and SQL instance name you enter must be accurate, and the SQL Server name cannot contain more than 15 characters.

To modify the connection string to connect to the VMM database

  1. In the registry, navigate to the following subkey: \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Server\Settings\Sql

  2. Right-click ConnectionString, click Modify, and then change the Server= value data by deleting the IP address and replacing it with the name for the remote SQL Server-based computer.

Configuring the Remote Instance of SQL Server

On the remote instance of SQL Server that you specify during Setup:

  • Enable remote connections.

    Note

    By default, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Evaluation Edition, and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition are configured to allow only local connections. For more information about these configurations, see SQL Server Books Online (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98779).

  • Ensure that the SQL Server-based computer is running under the Local System account. If it is running under the Network Service account or a domain account, you must create a Service Principal Name (SPN) for the SQL service as described in article 811889 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=88057).

  • Do one of the following:

    • Assign the instance its own TCP/IP port, and then connect explicitly to that port.

    • Turn on the SQL Server Browser service.

      Important

      Turning on SQL Server Browser allows connections from the Internet to your computer. For security purposes, you might want to leave SQL Server Browser off on computers that are directly connected to the Internet. For more information, see SQL Server Books Online. By default, the SQL Server Browser service is disabled in SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Additional Configuration Steps

There are required and recommended additional configuration steps to consider when configuring a remote instance of SQL Server:

  • If the remote instance of SQL Server is on a computer located behind a firewall, you must open a port on the firewall for the SQL Server.
  • To enhance the security of your remote SQL Server connection, we recommend that you enable Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption by modifying the connection string as described in article 316898 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=89722).
    Use the following procedure to modify the connection string to enable SSL encryption.

To modify the connection string to enable SSL encryption

  1. In the registry, navigate to the following subkey: \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Server\Settings\Sql

  2. Right-click ConnectionString, click Modify, and then change the value data by appending the following to the end of the string: Encrypt=YES

See Also

Concepts

Installing the VMM Server
Installing Virtual Machine Manager
Installing and Configuring Virtual Machine Manager 2007