[KB6913] Use Windows authentication for connection to SQL Server database in ESET Security Management Center

Issue

ESET business product no longer supported

This content applies to an ESET product version that is currently in End of Life status and is no longer supported. This content is no longer updated.

For a complete list of supported products and support level definitions, review the ESET End of Life policy for business products.

Upgrade ESET business products.

During the installation of ESET Security Management Center Server, the Mixed mode authentication (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication) is required.

If you want to use Windows Authentification to log in to the MS SQL database in ESMC, follow the steps below.

Details

This Knowledgebase article also applies to ESET Remote Administrator 6.x.

Solution

Windows authentication can disable upgrades

If you use the Windows authentication mode to connect the database with the Windows user account, you cannot update the connected component (ESMC Server or MDC) using the Components Upgrade task.

We recommend using a dedicated database user to access the database. Make sure to set access rights for the user to access the necessary directories.

Follow the steps below to configure MS SQL to use Windows Authentication:

On the computer where ESMC Server is installed, navigate to the following directory:

C:\ProgramData\ESET\RemoteAdministrator\Server\EraServerApplicationData\Configuration\

Edit and save the startupconfiguration.ini file so that it contains the following:

DatabaseType=MSSQLOdbc

DatabaseConnectionString=Driver={SQL Server Native Client 11.0};Server=.\ERASQL;Database=era_db;Trusted_Connection=yes;

Default SQL Server instance and database names:

The above example contains the default SQL Server instance name (ERASQL) and database name (era_db) that are created when MS SQL Server Express is installed together with the ESMC Server.

Click Start and run Services.
Right-click the ESET Security Management Center Server service and select Properties.

Figure 1-1
Click the image to view larger in new window
Click the Log On tab and click Browse.

Figure 1-2
Type the name of the user that logs into Windows (Administrator in this example) and click OK.

Figure 1-3
Type the password in the Password and Confirm Password fields and click OK.

Figure 1-4
Right-click the ESET Security Management Center Server service and select Restart.

Figure 1-5
Click the image to view larger in new window
Optionally, you can disable the mixed-mode authentication:
1. Download and install Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.
2. Change the Server authentication to Windows Authentication mode, as described here.
  
  Figure 1-6
Windows Authentication is now used when accessing the ESMC MS SQL database.