How to Change the Administration Database Connection String

To connect to the Administration database on the computer that is running SQL Server, first you set the Administration database connection string during the Commerce Server installation process. This connection string uses a SQL Server logon user name and password. During Commerce Server installation, Setup prompts you for an existing SQL Server logon name and password that Setup uses to create the Administration database on the server that is running SQL Server or to connect to the database if it already exists.

After the Administration database is created, you can use SQL Server Enterprise Manager to change the SQL Server logon and password for the Administration database. If you want to use a different SQL Server logon to connect to the Administration database from the Commerce Server computer, you must use Commerce Server Manager to change the connection string to the database.

For security, do not use the "sa" logon for access to the Administration database. Instead, use SQL Server Enterprise Manager to create a new logon and user for the Administration database.

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

  • You have changed the location of the Administration database.

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

    When you use AuthFilter in this scenario, you must change the connection string to the Administration database because the ISAPI filter—and therefore 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 computer that is running SQL Server on another computer that is using credentials from LocalSystem—which is not valid. It does not have the rights to make connections across a network.

    Note

    If the Administration database is local, the connection would work, but you should never locate the Administration database on the Web server.

    After you change a property in Commerce Server Manager, you must restart all services that use those values.

To change the Administration database connection string

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 , and then click Commerce Server Manager.

  2. In the Commerce Server Manager console, in the left pane, right-click Commerce Server Manager, and then click Properties.

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

  4. In the Data Link Properties dialog box, change the SQL Server name (if it is necessary), select the authentication mode (we recommend Windows NT Integrated security), and then click OK.

See Also

Other Resources

How to Change the Administration Database SQL Server Logon and Password

How to Change a Service Account or Password

Managing the Administration Database

How to Restart IIS

Commerce Server Operations