leedesmond’s blog

It is possible to install SQL Server 2008 on a domain member server simply with a local administrative account. Besides specifying service accounts for the various SQL services*, you also need to add at least one user account that will be designated as SQL Server administrator(s) in Windows authentication mode. The same goes for account provisioning at the configuration step for the SQL Analysis service. Adding the current user (= <machinename>\Administrator) will work in both cases.

Next, you log on using an account with membership in the Domain Admins and RTCUniversalServerAdmins security groups and start the Monitoring Server Activation Wizard. At the “Select SQL Server Instance” page, you provide <machinename> as the SQL Server instance. Only the computer name is essential when SQL is configured to use the default instance. Clicking Next will cause an error message to be displayed:

An error occurred during the backend detection:
SQL instance detection failed.

Click ‘Cancel’ to close this wizard.
Click ‘Try Again’ to go back to the previous page and enter a different SQL instance.
Click ‘Continue’ to ignore this error.

Starting the SQL Server Management Studio using the same credentials at this point in time will also fail. To resolve this, logoff and log in with <machinename>\Administrator then add and assign the <domain>\administrator (or equivalent) account with SQL administrative permissions that are similar to the former. Rerun the Wizard by logging on with the domain administrative account to complete the activation process on the target Monitoring Server.

*  NT AUTHORITY\Local System and NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM

Technorati tags: LCS/OCS, OCS 2007 R2, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

Building an OCS 2007 R2 Enterprise pool requires a back-end database running either SQL Server 2005 SP2 or 2008. As of R2, the recommended setup is the consolidated topology although the expanded configuration continues to be supported*. The database application can be 32- or 64- bit and the edition chosen is often dependent on the features required e.g. scalability or active/passive fail-over clustering.

A dedicated machine installed with SQL Server must already be present in order to receive the Back-End database. The latter will be automatically built when the R2 Enterprise pool is created. Since the Default Instance of SQL Server communicates over TCP port 1433 by default, you must explicitly configure Windows Firewall to permit this inbound traffic (to SQL) if the operating system you are running is base on Windows Server 2008. This statement applies to both SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2005.

You should closely follow the guide here or here to configure Windows Firewall for SQL Server 2005/2008 access. Failure to comply with this requirement will cause R2 setup to appear to hang and then terminate with an error (need to cancel without possibility to proceed further):

—————————
Error
—————————
Unable to retrieve the WMI setting of MSFT_SIPLogSetting from pool backend ’sqlservername’. Please ensure the backend database exists and is reachable.
(Error code: 0×800407D0)
—————————
OK
—————————

As most non SQL Administrators would agree, a word on how to correctly install SQL Server 2005/2008 for R2 is in order. In addition to the SQL Server Database Services component, you should at least also select the Workstation components during setup. The latter is essential if you intend to perform administrative tasks on the Back-End server itself, such as creating new SQL instance via a GUI. Should you start off by installing, say SQL Server 2005 RTM and then apply SP2 later, you will not be able to add new components at a later time if you only have the original RTM media. Keep this in mind when you install SQL Server using the instructions here.

For a brand new SQL Server 2005 setup as an example, consider choosing as a starting point to keep things simple …

… the Default instance (MSSQLSERVER)

… the built-in Local system account (service account)

… Windows Authentication Mode

… and the SQL collations settings to “Dictionary order, case-insensitive, for use with 1252 Character Set” (backward compatibility)

With the Back-End database installed and properly configured, the “Partial” warning should not even appear where you execute Step 1: Add Server to Pool**. In other words, you should re-run this step if required until only “Success” is reported when you review the logs. All in all, this should pave the way for a less bumpy ride with subsequent steps in deploying R2 Enterprise Edition.

See also:
How to install Office Communications Server 2007 R2 to a SQL Server Named Instance using a non default TCP\IP port

* via command-line only
** Add Enterprise Edition Server to Pool

Technorati tags: LCS/OCS, OCS 2007 R2, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

You can still attend our monthly Swiss IT Pro User Group event tomorrow Tue 5 May 2009 from 1815 hrs CET+1 even if you are not based out of Zurich or the region. Our guest speakers from Canada and the UK* will be simultaneously delivering their sessions via Live Meeting from their respective locations in the world. Find out what is the time/date for your location here.

Participation at this community event is free although we request that you sign up for your free swissitpro.ch member account to keep up-to-date with news and events. Interested? Then hop on over here for important registration information in order to receive the Live Meeting conference details.

* in person in Zurich

Technorati tags: Community/User Group, Events, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

Two focused topics on SQL Server 2008 covering eliminating downtime for SQL maintenance and effective aggregations in Analysis Services 2008 await you next Tue 5 May 2009 at our monthly Swiss IT Pro User Group event in collaboration with Swiss PASS Chapter.

In collaboration with Swiss PASS Chapter, we are pleased to invite Chris Webb (Crossjoin Consulting) and David Tung (xkoto, Inc.) as guest speakers to deliver these exciting sessions.

More information and free registration here.

Technorati tags: Community/User Group, Events, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

The next Swiss IT Pro User Group after work event in Zurich is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 3 March 2009 (from 1745 hrs CET+1). The theme centers around “SQL Server Business Intelligent Dashboards and Performance Tuning” with guest speakers from Microsoft Switzerland and Quest Software.

Registration and detail session information can be found here.

Technorati tags: Community/User Group, Events, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

We’re an independant, not-for-profit association, dedicated to providing extraordinary value for the Microsoft SQL Server Community where you are empowered to collaborate, learn, and grow through knowledge sharing and peer-based learning.

Check out the newly re-launched web site for the Swiss PASS Chapter by Charley, one of our Swiss IT Pro User Group core team members (click on the logo above), and register for your free membership. You can find some of the previous SQL presentation materials for download as well (joint Swiss IT Pro User Group - SQL SIG monthly evening event).

The Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS) is an international organization focusing on Microsoft SQL Server family of products.

Technorati tags: Community/User Group, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

Download the 180-day trial version of SQL Server 2008 RTM today. Make sure that your system satisfies the system requirements in order to take full advantage of the product.

For an overview of the key changes and highlights, check out the TechNet Magazine article here. You can also review the SQL Server 2008 editions and components here. Consult the tutorials to learn more.

Dank unseren Microsoft Schweiz Kollege können sie mehr über SQL Server 2008 hier kennen lernen.

Technorati tags: SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

With three full days of intensive sessions by experienced SQL experts covering topics such as “SQL Server Performance Marine”, “Mastering MDX in 3 days” and “Advanced BI Concepts based on the MS BI stack”, you will not want to miss the 4th annual PASS Camp scheduled from 2-4 Sep 2008 in Germany.

More information here.

Technorati tags: User Group, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

A lot of heated community discussions were recently raised regarding the way PowerShell is implemented in the upcoming Microsoft SQL Server 2008. This is largely due to what Jeffrey Snover termed as MiniShell, a new but closed, non-extensible, re-produceable PowerShell environment with certain defined cmdlets and providers.

The idea of MiniShell is to allow execution of ad-hoc operations that can assist in isolation of application specific issues due to .NET versioning or plug-in conflicts from different programs, for example, to help PSS pinpoint the root cause. The SQL team’s implementation, however, failed to meet the original intent of correctly deploying MiniShell to keep the database platform safe and reliable for real-world production use.

Apparently it is already too late to make any changes at this RC0 stage of SQL Server 2008. Jeffrey mentioned that the PowerShell and SQL teams endeavor to address this shortcoming “at their next opportunity”. As a workaround, it is possible to launch PowerShell at the MiniShell prompt by adding the desired snap-ins manually (including SQL ones) or through the use of a console file.

Keep those feedback coming but please maintain constructive criticisms, so Jeffrey.

Technorati tags: PowerShell, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »

Join us at our last monthly event for IT Pros by IT Pros before the annual August summer break. One of the most anticipated and hottest topic this year, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (RC0) is now available for TechNet Subscribers so its a good time to look at what’s new!

If you were around when SQL Server 2005 launched, you would have been overwhelmed with the new features and enhancements that were presented there, and this version stays true to the relative awe and wonder of its predecessor.

Come listen to our resident SQL Server expert, Charley Hanania, on the evening of Tue 1 July 2008 in Zurich. Registration and more information here.

This free monthly event would not be possible without the continuing support of our sponsors Digicomp, Microsoft Schweiz, speakers and volunteers for the IT Pro community.

Technorati tags: User Group, SQL Server 200x/2008

No Comments »