Computer Configurations When No Domain Active Directory Present

SCENARIO

Client has Office365 accounts, but not connected to a domain active directory (this means that when you view the Users in SSMS>[Database]>Security>Users and in LIMS>Admin>Users the primary user (will look like this: “AzureAD\Username” vs. looking like this: “JStreetTech\Username”

Client installs SQL (Express or other) AND LIMS on the HOST computer, adds additional Users to LIMS using the additional User’s Windows logins

Client installs LIMS on additional computers (that will connect to SQL on the HOST computer), but receives a “connection failed”

RESOLUTION

Because the client is using Office365 without a domain active directory, true Windows authentication cannot be established, therefore LIMS/SQL does not recognize the log in.

To resolve this issue a few additional steps need to be done to properly configure the additional computers.

STEPS

ON HOST COMPUTER (the computer that has SQL on it) we are going to add a new user:

1. Go to System Settings>Other Users> Add Someone Else To This PC
2. Select “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”
3. Select “Add a user without a Microsoft account”
4. Create a UserName (such as Admin1, Tech1, etc.)
5. Create Password and answer security questions (write down all of this information – you will need it again) * This will create this USER on the HOST computer*

ON HOST COMPUTER:

1. Open LIMS
2. Go to ADMIN> Users
3. Add the USER you just created to LIMS in the following format: “HOSTComputerName\Username”
   
   
   

On 2nd computer:

1. Go to System Settings>Other Users> Add Someone Else To This PC
2. Select “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”
3. Select “Add a user without a Microsoft account”
4. Create the exact same username and password that you just created on the HOST computer – * This will create this USER on the 2^nd computer*
   
   

On 2nd computer,

1. Hold down the SHIFT key and right click the LIMS icon
2. Select “Run as different user”

Complete the Database Connection screen:

If you are still unsuccessful in connecting, check these firewall settings:

FIREWALL

On HOST computer we need to ensure that the connection is allowed from the additional computers TO the HOST computer (so they can connect to the database):

Go to Windows Defender Firewall> Advanced Settings> Inbound Rules

CREATE MSSQLSERVER RULE

1. Click NEW RULE in the right panel
2. Select Port>Next
3. Select TCP> Specific Port: 1433
4. Select “Allow the Connection”> Next
5. Select all options> Next:
6. Create the name rule “SQL Server(MSSQLSERVER) – this is the default instance of SQL Server that would have installed when you installed SQL on the HOST computer.  If you changed the name of the default instance, use that instance name in the parentheses.  Click Finish.
   

CREATE SQLBROWSER RULE

1. Click NEW RULE in the right panel
2. Select Port>Next
3. Select UDP> Specific Port: 1434
4. Select “Allow the Connection”> Next
5. Select all options> Next:
6. Create the name rule “SQL Server Browser Service”  Click Finish.
   
   Go back to the 2^nd computer and you should now be able to connect to your LIMS database!