Changing the Administration Database Connection String

  • Article

To connect to the Administration database on SQL Server, initially you set the connection string during the Commerce Server installation process. The Administration database connection string supports Microsoft SQL Authentication and Windows Authentication.

Ee809926.note(en-US,CS.20).gif Note

  • When Commerce Server Manager cannot connect to the Administration database, the root node for Commerce Server Manager appears in the scope pane in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), but the rest of the Commerce Server hierarchy does not appear.

You must change the connection string for the Administration database in the following situations:

  • You change the location of the Administration database.

  • You rename the database.

  • You have a multi-server deployment of Commerce Server using Windows Authentication, and AuthFilter is configured for Custom Authentication.

    When using AuthFilter in this scenario, you must change the connection string to the Administration database because the ISAPI filter (and hence AuthFilter) is running in the security context of the Internet Information Services (IIS) process (inetinfo), known as LocalSystem. Therefore, AuthFilter tries to connect to the SQL Server on another computer using credentials from LocalSystem, which is invalid; it does not have the rights to make connections across a network. (If the Administration database is local, the connection would work, but you should never locate the Administration database on the Web server.)

    For more information, see Using Windows Authentication in a Distributed Deployment.

To change the connection string for the Administration database

  1. Right-click Commerce Server Manager, and then click Properties.

  2. In the Commerce Server Manager Properties dialog box, on the Administration Database tab, click Modify.

    The Data Link Properties dialog box appears.

  3. In the Data Link Properties dialog box, change the SQL Server name, if needed.

  4. Select the authentication mode:

    • To use Windows NT Integrated security, select Use Windows NT Integrated security.
    • To use SQL Authentication, select Use a specific user name and password, and then complete the User name and Password boxes.

    Do not select Blank password. If you do, you will cause a security risk in your environment.

  5. Click OK.

Ee809926.note(en-US,CS.20).gif Notes

  • It is possible to add connection strings that are not associated with a database, and thus, do not work. If this occurs, Microsoft Data Link does not display an error message.
  • After you change a property in Commerce Server Manager, you must restart all services that use those values. For instructions, see Restarting IIS and Commerce Server Services.

See Also

Securing the Administration Database

Managing the Administration Database

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