How do I setup OLEDB to connect to a remote database? - database

I am locally running an Oracle 11g database. I have a small program connecting to it in code via OLEDB in VC++ (It only runs some database tests, I'm making sure I have all the basics down before I go into the real thing.) The connection information in code only includes the provider, instance name, user name, and password. All this aspect works fine.
//For example, both these ways of connecting work:
result = dataSource.Open(DATABASE_PROVIDER, DATABASE_NAME,
DATABASE_USER_NAME, DATABASE_USER_PASSWORD);
result = dataSource.OpenFromInitializationString(L"Provider=OraOLEDB.OracleDataSource=orcl;User ID=SYSTEM;Password=admin;");
I now want to send this program to other computers in my network and run it from there, connecting to my database on my local machine.
How would I go about connecting the other computers to my database in a way that the code will understand?
I have been trying to connect locally via IP instead of "localhost", figuring I could then simply use the same code and client. In that regard, I have tried a few things without success:
-I have tried modifying the connection string to change "Data Source" to my IP, but it could not connect.
-I have tried adding some parameters from other connection string examples I had seen, but they were not for Oracle and were ignored.
-I have also tried modifying tnsnames.ora and listener.ora to change local host to an IP address, but I know that didn't work, as it would still connect if I entered rubbish.
Anyone has the knowledge to help out?

For an Oracle db, you should set up a new tnsnames entry on their individual machines that points to your local db. Then use that new tns name as the datasource. You'll also need to make sure that your local db instance is accessible to them in the first place. (This is not enabled by default in Oracle Express, by the way.)
I've also generally had more success using msdaora as the data provider instead of OraOLEDB.

Related

Connecting to SQL Server in a remote server from Access

We have a Server A and a Server B.
In Server A we have our ERPs made in Access and VBA.
In Server B we have an instance of SQL Server that needs to stay in that server.
Some Access databases need to link to some tables from that SQL Server instance and I don't want the password to be stored in the MSysObjects table, so I cannot manually link the tables checking the save the connection option.
I saved the connection string in a table with password obfuscation. With that connection string I re-link the tables on startup.
The instance is accessed through it's IP, not the name of the instance. If I use the name of the instance it doesn't work.
It works for me but not for other users except one.
The SQL Server instance has been properly configured to allow remote connections, the ports have been opened and rules added to firewall. If it wasn't properly configured it wouldn't work for me and the other user, so I'm pretty confident in that. The same with the connection string and the methods to stablish the connection in Access.
What I've tried:
Installing the SQL Native Client 11.0.
Installing a full SQL Server Express.
Configured the SQL Browser service to star automatically instead of being disabled.
Step 1 did not work for any user. Step 2 did work for one user but not for the rest. Step 3 did not had any effect. For me I had it installed in my machine since forever, so it doesn't apply.
If I try to do the same with a SQL Server instance in our LAN it works for every user, but not when the instance is in a remote server.
Note I have limited knowledge. Maybe I say something that does not make sense.
Ok, a few things:
Installing the SQL Native Client 11.0.
Ok, then you have to re-link the tables - choose the new driver. A refresh of the linked tables is NOT sufficent. And this ALSO means that each work station ALSO now must have native 11 instlled. And if you say decide to link using native 17 (a much newer odbc driver), then AGAIN YOU must install this native driver on each work station. While you can install multiple sql drivers on each workstation, the driver you used to link the tables MUST ALSO be installed and exist on each work station.
Installing a full SQL Server Express.
Why? What would installing a copy of sql server have to do with OTHER sql servers on other machines that you are attempting to connect to? You think installing sql server on a machine effects the sql server running say on amazon.com? So, this move makes no sense at all.
You are attempting to connect to some instance of sql server running on some other computer. Makes no sense nor will it help to install some copy of sql server that you not using, not connecting to, and that has zero to do with this issue.
Configured the SQL Browser service to star automatically instead of being disabled.
Where? The browser service is set to run and startup on the server and SAME machine where sql server is installed and running. So, yes, without question, those two sql servers A, and B most certainly MUST have the sql browser service running. That service is what allows the client computers to connect to that running instance of sql server. In the past, older (previous) versions of sql server would allow a default connection, but now in near all cases, you MUST ensure that the sql browser service is running on that computer that also has the database you are attempting to connect to.
it's worth to note that the instance is accessed through it's IP, not the name of the instance.
No, you likly have this incorrect. There are two part.
The server name - and then the "instance" of sql server running.
While you can swap out (not use) the server name, you STILL WILL NEED to specify the sql server instance.
So, you can use this format:
myservername\SQLEXPRESS
Or, you can replace the server with a IP address, but you STILL NEED the sql server instance. (by default, it is SQLEXPRESS - but you have to check what the instance of sql server database is).
192.168.1.30\SQLEXPRESS
So while you can use IP or server name - it is often more reliable to use the IP address, but that does NOT get you off the hook from having to specify the sql instance you connect to. Again, previous editions of sql server often allowed a "default" instance, and you did not in general have to specify the "instance", but now you do. And to be double clear, when using such a instance, that sql server needs to be running the sql browser service. (in fact, the browser service is what translates the incoming request to the given and correct instance of sql server).
I DON'T want the password to be stored in the MSysObjects table,
You don't have to, and in fact should NOT include the uid/password in your connection string. And in fact ZERO reason exists to do so.
What you do is execute a one time logon, and THEN link the tables without UID/password. This is not only a great idea, but it also means that your uid/password is not included in the connection strings, but also means users can't get at, or even by accident see/get the uid/password.
It also means that say someone where to launch a copy of access, and import the linked tables from this applcation. When they attempt to use the linked tables, they will NOT work.
So, then how do linked tables work without a password? (and this ALSO by the way saves you from having to re-link tables on startup!!!).
The way this works, is you in code execute a one time logon to the server on startup. That means you can either:
Prompt the user for their sql UID/password.
or
Have in code, the uid/password. (or perhaps in a text file y ou read on startup. You can thus hide, or encrypt or whatever for that uid/passwords.
Then in your startup code, you execute a one time logon. Once you done this, then all linked tables will now work - and work without having uid/password.
since you have two servers then you need to execute two logons, one for server A, and one for server B. But, once again, as long as the linked tables exist, then they will work.
Now, there are "longer" articles on how to use this logon idea, and then not have to include, or re-link your tables for the SQL uid/password.
The basic code to execute a logon is like this:
Function TestLogin(strCon As String) As Boolean
On Error GoTo TestError
Dim dbs As DAO.Database
Dim qdf As DAO.QueryDef
Set dbs = CurrentDb()
Set qdf = dbs.CreateQueryDef("")
qdf.connect = strCon
qdf.ReturnsRecords = False
'Any VALID SQL statement that runs on server will work below.
' this does assume user has enough rights to query built in
' system tables
qdf.sql = "SELECT 1 "
qdf.Execute
TestLogin = True
Exit Function
TestError:
TestLogin = False
Exit Function
End Function
Keep in mind, that ONCE you acheived a legal logon, then EVEN addtional logon attempts will return true.
Not usually a big deal, but this means you supply a valid connection to above, and if it logs on and works - then now all your linked tables (without uid/password) will work.
I note the above issue that ONCE you done the logon, then all 2nd or more times running the above will work (even if bad or incorrect!!! - DO NOT forget this tip!!!). (this can confuse the daylights out of a developer, since they execute logon, (or open a table). Then they test above routine with a BAD uid/passwords, and it works!!!
So, you have to EXIT access to clear out the password cache - no other way.
So, keep the above tips in mind.

Azure Function Database Connection

I have a Python package that I am able to run successfully on an Azure Data Science Virtual Machine. However, when I push it to Azure as a Function, I cannot successfully make a database connection. I was getting an error that the ODBC Driver 13 for SQL Server was not supported, so I changed the driver to ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server and now I am NOT getting an error, but no data is being returned for a query that I know should return data.
Is there any other reason that data would not be returned? Firewall issues? do I need to add a binding? Do I need to separate out the connection string to feed each part (e.g., Driver, UID, PWD) into pyodbc.connect() separately? Right now I am feeding it in like this:
setting = os.environ("CONNECTIONSTRING")
conn = pyodbc.connect(setting)
This query works fine returning data when I run it on the VM using this code, just not as a Function.
(Note, this is different from my previous post regarding reading the Azure App Setting. That problem has been solved).
There are many parts where this could be breaking.
I'd suggest start by having a Profiler or Extended Events trace on your SQL Server to verify whether a connection is even being established. If not then you need to work through the the various points of connectivity to find out where it breaks. The identity, firewall, NSGs etc might all come into play here.
Once you see a connection then you can play with permissions to ensure that your query then returns your data.
Without a full picture of your infrastructure and settings it is hard to pin it down further.
Turns out it was not a database connectivity issue like I thought it was; it was a code error.

SERVERPROPERTY('SERVERNAME') v/s 'localhost'

I am using SQL Server 2008 R2.
I have created an SQL Job that fetches data from database tables and writes it to output file i.e. CSV on specific location.
For this I am using bcp and xp_cmdshell.
In bcp I need to pass the server name. Upto this I was using 'localhost' as server name, but by running this on another PC I have came to know that the 'localhost' login is not working on it so that the output files are not getting generated.
I searched about it and got another command that returns the server name along with server instance. i.e. SERVERPROPERTY('ServerName')
Now I am confused for using it. It is running OK with my local PC and Another PC also but my question is - Is it always run safely without any error if I put it on any other Server or PC? Which one of this is advisable to be used?
I think you're getting confused about the term "LocalHost". This is just an alias (aka loopback) that points back to the machine originating the connection.
For example, if my machine was named MYMACHINE and I was running a default instance on it, I could connect to the database either by specifying LocalHost or MYMACHINE and I would connect. If someone else was trying to connect from machine YOURMACHINE, they would only be able to connect to my database if they specified MYMACHINE. If they entered LOCALHOST it would try to connect to YOURMACHINE as that is where the connection is originating.
Back to your question now, yes, it is safe to get the servername value from SERVERPROPERTY('ServerName') as it will always report the correct and current network name of the server. This is not the case with ##SERVERNAME, so you should shy away from that for your purposes.
LocalHost: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Localhost
##ServiceName (last paragraph of remarks section is important): http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187944.aspx
P.S. I apologize for not adding a comment to the question, but my reputation is not currently high enough to do so.

SQL Server Connection String on Domain

I have a local SQL Server DB on my domain-attached machine to which I'm trying to connect via a WPF app. The original connstring was:
Server=MyMachine.MyDomain.local;Database=MyDomain;Trusted_Connection=True
That resulted in a failed connection (could connect via SSMS just fine), access is denied. When I changed the connstring to:
Server=MyMachine;Database=MyDomain;Trusted_Connection=True
everything connected properly. Any thoughts as to why? It's not a big deal, as it's a test db, but I'd like to understand.
It's a guess, but I'd bet that name resolution is failing. Somehow the dns lookup is failing, but the short name works because it tries a netbios lookup instead of a dns lookup. It likely also works if you put in the server IP address.
I finally found the problem: protocol TCP/IP was disabled, so it appears that calling it via MyMachine.MyDomain.local was trying to use the TCP/IP protocol, even though it was on my local machine.

SQL Server, convert a named instance to default instance?

I need to convert a named instance of SQL server 2005, to a default instance.
Is there a way to do this without a reinstall?
The problem is, 2 out of 6 of the developers, installed with a named instance. So its becoming a pain changing connection strings for the other 4 of us. I am looking for the path of least resistance to getting these 2 back on to our teams standard setup.
Each has expressed that this is going to be, too much trouble and that it will take away from their development time. I assumed that it would take some time to resolve, in the best interest of all involved, I tried combing through configuration apps installed and didn't see anything, so I figured someone with more knowledge of the inner workings would be here.
I also wanted to convert a named instance to default - my reason was to access it with just the machine name from various applications.
If you want to access a named instance from any connection string without using the instance name, and using only the server name and/or IP address, then you can do the following:
Open SQL Server Configuration Manager
Click SQL Server Network Configuration
Click Protocols for INSTANCENAME you want to make available (i.e. SQLExpress)
Right-click TCP/IP and click Enabled
Right-click TCP/IP and go to Properties
Go to the IP Addresses tab
Scroll down to the IPAll section
Clear the field TCP Dynamic Ports (i.e. empty/blank)
Set TCP Port to 1433
Click Ok
Go to SQL Server Services
Right-click your SQL Server (INSTANCENAME) and click Restart
This will make the named instance listen on the default port. Note : You can have only one instance configured like this - no two instances can have same port on the IP All section unless the instance is a failover cluster.
As far as I know, no. One reason is the folder structure on the hard drive; they will have a name like MSSQL10.[instancename]
This is why a lot of companies store their applications' connection strings at the machine level instead of the application level.
Just take the connection string out of the source code entirely. Then have everyone put their connection string in their machine.config.
This has the added benefit of avoiding unnecessary app-specific environment logic, i.e. when you copy your application to the staging server, the staging server already "knows" what database to use.
The only way to change the instance name is to re-install - uninstall and install as default instance.
A lot of times I'll use client alias to point an application at a different sql server than the ones it's connection string is for, esp. handy when working on DTS or an application with a hard coded connection string. Have everybody use a commonly named alias, use the alias in the connection string and point the alias’s on each dev box to the to the different instances. That way you won't have to worry about if the server is the default instance or not.
You shouldn't ever really need to do this. Most software that claims to require the default instance (like Great Plains or Dynamics) doesn't actually.
If you repost with your situation (installed X, then Y, but need to accomplish Z) I bet you'll get some good workarounds.
I think you can migrate your data from Sql Server without having default instance installed. You can just specify the port number of your Sql Server instance in Oracle Sql Developer and you can connect just using the server name, not using the server name and the instance.
Like this:
connect to "MYSERVER, 1433"

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