There are three types of datasources, Local, System, and File. Local datasources only allow the user creating the datasource, and the applications running under that user's name, to access the datasource. Local datasources are not good for Active Server pages, or ISAPI applications because these applications run under the system account, not under the account of the person creating a datasource.
System datasources allow every application on that computer to access the datasource, no matter what user created the datasource. These types of datasources can be used for ISAPI applications and Active Server pages. The configuration for the datasource is stored within the registry just like the local datasource.
File datasources are files that are configured with the datasource information. Any application, which has permissions to read the file, can connect to this datasource. The ODBC team recommends these types of datasources, because ODBC configuration information can be transported as easy as transporting a file.
To create a ODBC System datasource for SQL Server follow the steps below.
- Open the control panel.
- Select the ODBC icon.
- Click the System DSN Tab.
- Click the Add button.
- Select SQL Server from the Installed ODBC Driver list.
- Enter the data source name. This name is used by the application to connect to the datasource. It must be unique to the machine.
- Enter the server name. If the web server and the SQL Server are on the same machine, this selection should be (local).
- Click on Options.
- End the database name. This is the name of the database on the SQL Server. Left blank it will default to the default SQL Server database. The default SQL Server database is configurable from SQL Server.
- Exit by clicking OK, then Close, and then Close a final time.
