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Procedure: Ascertain Connectivity of the Relational Data Source

William Pearson
By William Pearson

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.




Illustration: The Data Source Designer with Default Settings …



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

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




Illustration 2: The Connection Manager with Default Settings …


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).



  1. 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.)




Illustration 3: The Connection Manager, with Corrected Settings …



  1. 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.
  2. Ensure that authentication settings are correct for the local environment.
  3. 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.




Illustration 4: Testing Positive for Connectivity …



  1. Click OK to dismiss the message box.
  2. 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.




Illustration 5: The Data Source Designer with Modified Settings …



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

William Pearson
William Pearson
Bill has been working with computers since before becoming a "big eight" CPA, after which he carried his growing information systems knowledge into management accounting, internal auditing, and various capacities of controllership. Bill entered the world of databases and financial systems when he became a consultant for CODA-Financials, a U.K. - based software company that hired only CPA's as application consultants to implement and maintain its integrated financial database - one of the most conceptually powerful, even in his current assessment, to have emerged. At CODA Bill deployed financial databases and business intelligence systems for many global clients. Working with SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase and Informix, and focusing on MSSQL Server, Bill created Island Technologies Inc. in 1997, and has developed a large and diverse customer base over the years since. Bill's background as a CPA, Internal Auditor and Management Accountant enable him to provide value to clients as a liaison between Accounting / Finance and Information Services. Moreover, as a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) - a Certified Public Accountant recognized for his or her unique ability to provide business insight by leveraging knowledge of information relationships and supporting technologies - Bill offers his clients the CPA's perspective and ability to understand the complicated business implications and risks associated with technology. From this perspective, he helps them to effectively manage information while ensuring the data's reliability, security, accessibility and relevance. Bill has implemented enterprise business intelligence systems over the years for many Fortune 500 companies, focusing his practice (since the advent of MSSQL Server 2000) upon the integrated Microsoft business intelligence solution. He leverages his years of experience with other enterprise OLAP and reporting applications (Cognos, Business Objects, Crystal, and others) in regular conversions of these once-dominant applications to the Microsoft BI stack. Bill believes it is easier to teach technical skills to people with non-technical training than vice-versa, and he constantly seeks ways to graft new technology into the Accounting and Finance arenas. Bill was awarded Microsoft SQL Server MVP in 2009. Hobbies include advanced literature studies and occasional lectures, with recent concentration upon the works of William Faulkner, Henry James, Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Honoré de Balzac, and Charles Dickens. Other long-time interests have included the exploration of generative music sourced from database architecture.
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