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FJ1200
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

vCenter 5 SQL Server Express access

I need to back up the SQL Server Express DB on a vCenter 5.0 server as we're moving it to a new VM and SQL Server full as we're going to blow the limits.  I can't get the data migration tool working so trying to access the DB in the Management Studio to get a backup.  Haven't used the Express version much, but whatever I do I get hit with permissions, and can't log in to the database.  If I try to change anything  in any properties I get hit as well.

I'm logged in as domain admin,the DB went in with all the defaults as part of the vCenter Install.  Connected to the DB server ok, can see all the DBs.   Any ideas?

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Sreejesh_D
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Whats the exact error your are getting? Please post the error message. 

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jdptechnc
Expert
Expert

FJ1200 wrote:

I need to back up the SQL Server Express DB on a vCenter 5.0 server as we're moving it to a new VM and SQL Server full as we're going to blow the limits.  I can't get the data migration tool working so trying to access the DB in the Management Studio to get a backup.  Haven't used the Express version much, but whatever I do I get hit with permissions, and can't log in to the database.  If I try to change anything  in any properties I get hit as well.

I'm logged in as domain admin,the DB went in with all the defaults as part of the vCenter Install.  Connected to the DB server ok, can see all the DBs.   Any ideas?

Did you try it with the vCenter service account?  I don't remember if this is default for Express or not, but the full edition of SQL will not grant local Administrators or Domain Admins rights to SQL by default.  But whatever account you are using for vCenter service should have the correct permissions.

Please consider marking as "helpful", if you find this post useful. Thanks!... IT Guy since 12/2000... Virtual since 10/2006... VCAP-DCA #2222
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FJ1200
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I'm getting an error that says VIM_VDB is inaccessible under the current security context.  It's running under the local system account - I believe it was installed with defaults.  Would changing the service account work?

I've done quite a bit with SQL Server in the past but haven't used it for a few years and haven't used 2008 at all so memory isn't good here.

We haven't done a huge amount of configuration yet so would I be just as well to start again?  It's our first foray with vCenter, we're going to upgrade to 5.1 and I'm just wondering if that would be a better route?  Any caveats doing that - Certificates and so on?

<EDIT>

Fixed it - really simple!

Followed this thread: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/2b34a7d7-bece-4b60-bf2d-bfcdd585b4e1...

...and used this provided link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd207004.aspx

Log in as single user mode, change DB permissions.  Worked, have now backed it up.

Hope this helps someone else.

<\EDIT>

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