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Setting up a direct connection to SQL Server

Setting up a direct connection to SQL Server
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About connecting directly to SQL Server

Note:This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

These instructions are for setting up a client machine to make a direct connection to an ArcSDE geodatabase for SQL Server licensed through ArcGIS Server Enterprise.

No client installation is needed on the connecting computer. You just need to be sure the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) on the client machine are at a supported level. The MDAC on the client should be up to date if you keep your operating system current.

How to set up clients

  1. Be sure you have a valid installation of the MDAC on the client machine. If you do not, you need to install the latest Microsoft Data Access Components. Check msado15.dll in \program files\common files\system\ado or download the component checker from www.msdn.microsoft.com and search for Data Access Downloads. (MDAC versions beyond 2.8 are included with updates to your operating system, so if your client's operating system is up-to-date, you should have the correct components.)

  2. If you have the SDEHOME environment variable set, make sure there is an etc folder in it. If it is not set, you can add an etc folder in your ArcGIS installation location. This etc folder is where log files containing error messages for direct connections are stored by default.

  3. Test the connection by adding a spatial database connection from ArcCatalog. Instructions for this can be found in the topic Creating spatial database connections in the "Data management with ArcCatalog" section of the help.

Tips

  • You can use the dbinit.sde file to set environment variables for direct-connect use, which may be more convenient than setting them via system tools. Create a text file named dbinit.sde and store it in the etc directory of the ArcGIS installation location.

    • See The dbinit.sde file for information on the environment variables set in this file.

  • If you are using ArcSDE 8.3 or lower, set the SDEHOME environment variable to point client applications to where the direct connect driver files are stored. For ESRI client applications, the direct connect files are installed in the same directory as the client application's other dynamically linked library files. For Windows applications, this is normally in the bin directory of your client application's installation location. To set this environment variable, you must specify the full file path to the directory above the bin directory holding the dynamic link libraries (.DLL files) gsrvrsql, sdesqlsvr, sg, sde, and pe. For example:

    • Variable:	SDEHOME	
Value:  C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\sql

    From an ArcGIS client, set neither and let the search default to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ESRI\CoreRuntime\InstallDir.

    The direct connect process will search for the appropriate driver in the bin directory of the path specified.

See Also

  • Setting up clients for a direct connection
  • Properties of a direct connection to an ArcSDE geodatabase