bcm, BCM 2007 not working with remote database

microsoft.public.outlook.bcm - Microsoft Office Outlook


bcm >> BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Michael Carr » Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:35:23 GMT

I am trying to set up BCM 2007 to work with a remote database hosted on
Server 2003 + Sql 2005, but the error I keep getting from Outlook is "Cannot
find computer ... Confirm that the remote computer exists and that it is
available on the network."

Background:

1. There is no firewall running.
2. The remote instance is named "Sql2005"
3. I am able to connect to the server instance from the client using the Sql
Server Management tool (TCP mode).
4. I am able to connect to the server instance from the client via telnet
when specifying port 5356.
5. I am able to connect to the server instance from the client when using
osql command line tool.

So, all diagnostics show that I am able to connect to the server, but
Outlook still says it can't find it. The syntax I'm giving Outlook is:
<computer name>\<instance name>

Any ideas? What should I try next?

Michael Carr



Top

bcm >> BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Guzun, Alex » Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:20:45 GMT


How did you deploy your remote SQL DB?
Did you use:
Outlook 2007 Document: Deploying Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager
in a Remote Database Configuration

I'm going to make the same, but didn't tried it yet
I think it would be better to install outlook with bcm on sql server (I did
the same with 2003 version, and it worked with no problems)





Top

bcm >> BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Michael Carr » Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:22:37 GMT





My server and client are on different domains, if that makes any
difference...



Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Guzun, Alex » Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:56:59 GMT

Are there any domain trusts?
If so: is it two-way?






Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Luther » Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:11:51 GMT

I don't think domain trust should be an issue if osql can connect.

I know there's a bcm sql instance name entry in the Registry,
HKLM software\microsoft\Business Solutions eCRM.

I don't know if BCM uses that in remote connections, or just for local
databases, but it might be worth fiddling with that. Be sure to backup
the original value though...








Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Michael Carr » Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:46:56 GMT





Yes, I used that document as a basic guide. Here are the exact steps I took:

1. I first allowed the BCM installer to create the db locally on Sql
Express.
2. I stopped the local MSSMLBIZ service and copied the MDF and LDF files to
my remote server.
3. Using Sql Management Studio (on the remote server), I attached the MDF
file to Sql 2005.

I then tried to connect to the database in a variety of ways, but I always
get the same message that the server doesn't exist... it's tough to debug
since there isn't any more detailed error information and I can't trace the
connection progress to see what's going wrong. I did run a Sql Trace on the
server and I didn't see any Sql activity occurring that was related to BCM.



Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Luther » Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:39:20 GMT

> 2. The remote instance is named "Sql2005"

What port number is this instance using?






Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Michael Carr » Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:29:49 GMT





Port 5356, as per the Remote Database document. Using a port scanner I was
able to verify that the port is accepting connections, and I also verified
it by telnetting to the port directly.



Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by Michael Carr » Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:43:42 GMT






The message is definitely "Cannot find computer ... Confirm that the remote
computer exists and that it is
available on the network." I just checked it again to make sure.


Yes, I can ping it and connect via both telnet and osql.


I couldn't find any reference in the whitepaper to Simple File Sharing. I
did find some references to File and Printer Sharing regarding the Firewall
configuration, but I don't have any firewall running so that doesn't apply
in this case.

From what I understand, BCM is connecting directly to Sql Server via TCP
port 5356. As long as I can connect to Sql Server from the client machine,
do I need File and Printer Sharing anyway? Is BCM connecting to the server
via some other method?


I set the permissions such that Sql Server 2005 could access the data files
and attached the data files to Sql as a database. This seemed to work
properly (I verified this by running several SELECT statements against the
tables).

I guess the big question is... is BCM connecting to the server via some
method other than TCP to Sql Server on port 5356?

Thanks,
Michael Carr



Top

BCM 2007 not working with remote database

by UGlvdHIgSw » Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:30:05 GMT

I had the same problem "cannot find data server on computer", and I did not
have a password set for the user account I was trying to connect from.

It was automatically logging (I think using the Authentication Windows not
SQL Server Authentication mechanism).

Now i get "Cannot find any Business COntact Manager databases on computer
WITS-W2003\MSSMLBIZ". I am going to figure it out, maybe it is a permissions
error.

Top
Similar Threads

1. [info]Deploying outllok 2007 with bcm in a remote Database configuration

2. BCM 2007 Remote Database Configuration (deploying tomorrow, ne

3. conecting to BCM 2007 database on remote computer issues

4. BCM 2007 Remote Database Configuration (deploying tomorrow, need h 

Hello,

Situation:  Currently my client has SBS 2003 with Exchange running on their 
server.  On the desktops they have Office 2003 Professional.  Tomorrow I'm 
going to be upgrading to Office 2007 Professional on all desktops including 
BCM with the database residing on the server.

Question:  I've read the bcm_sql document but it seems to apply to a beta 
version of BCM.  It says to create a SQL database manually etc.  Is there a 
more automated way to setup the database without installing Outlook w/BCM and 
without working with SQL directly?

(Also if anyone can point me to a document with how best to assign Office 
2007 to the desktops using command line switches to set various options I 
would appreciate it.)

5. Can not import the US BCM 2003 database into Dutch BCM 2007

6. Outlook 2007 BCM Won't Work - Can't Connect to Database 

I installed Office 2007 Professional Plus, and then Outlook with Business 
Contact Manager.  No problems.  I started Outlook, and in BCM, did an initial 
population of the Contacts from a series of Outlook contacts.  No problems.  
Deleted a few duplicates.  Then I tried to create a new Account manually.  
When I said to save, it refused, saying that it couldn't connect with the 
database.  I then tried to edit and save one of my imported contacts.  I got 
the same error message.

At this point, BCM 2007 is useless to me, because I can't create or edit 
anything.

Have other people experienced this?  If so, is there a workaround?

Thanks.

7. BCM 2007 beta won't work - can't connect to database

8. Remote online access to shared BCM database 

I understand that I can share a BCM database on a SBS2003 box. How can we 
access it online from outside the network?
I assume OWA doesn't work for BCM. VPN is too slow and not easy to set up in 
our experience. Is there another way to access the BCM database?