Procedure: Ascertain Connectivity of the Relational Data Source

November 9, 2006

Objective:

Use this procedure to ensure connectivity with a relational data source.

Background:

Many of us will be running “side-by-side” installations of MSSQL Server 2000 and MSSQL Server 2005. This means that our installation of the latter will need to be referenced, within a data source context, as a server / instance combination, versus a server name alone (the default for the Adventure Works DW project sample’s connection is localhost).

From within the open Analysis Services project, in the SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio, take the following steps:

1. Double-click Adventure Works.ds, within the Data Sources folder seen in Solution Explorer.

The Data Source Designer opens, defaulted to the General tab, and appears with default settings as shown in Illustration 1.

2. Click the Edit button on the Data Source Designer dialog.

The Connection Manager opens, and appears with default settings depicted in Illustration 2.

We note that the default Server name is “Localhost.” While this might prove an adequate setting for a PC with only MSSQL Server 2005 installed (default instance), in the case of many of our installations, the requirement here is for the server / instance combination that correctly identifies the correct MSSQL Server 2005 instance. (Clicking the Test Connection button at this point will provide confirmation as to whether we need to modify Server name).

3. If appropriate, type the correct server / instance name into the Server name box of the Connection Manager. (Mine is MOTHER1\MSSQL2K5, as shown in Illustration 3.)

4. Ensure that AdventureWorksDW is selected in the box labeled Select or enter a database name in the Connect to a database section of the Connection Manager dialog.
5. Ensure that authentication settings are correct for the local environment.
6. Click the Test Connection button.

A Connection Manager message box appears, indicating that the Test connection succeeded, assuming that our changes (or lack of same, as appropriate) are proper. The message box appears as depicted in Illustration 4.

7. Click OK to dismiss the message box.
8. Click OK to accept changes, as appropriate, and to dismiss the Connection Manager.

The Data Source Designer reappears, with our modified settings, similar to that shown in Illustration 5.

9. Click OK to close the Data Source Designer, and to return to the development environment.