Issue: You cannot connect to SQL Server or receive this error message: SQL Server: Test connection failed because of an error in initializing provider. Client unable to establish connection.
Possible Solutions:
Windows authentication may have been used instead of Microsoft SQL Server authentication. Oracle recommends using SQL Server authentication. See Verifying Microsoft SQL Server Authentication Settings.
The system may be using the Microsoft SQL Server default setting to connect to the database using named pipes instead of TCP/IP. Connection through TCP/IP is required. See Establishing the SQL Server Connection Using TCP/IP.
If you use Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or 2008, it disables TCP/IP connections to the database by default. You must enable these connections before running EPM System Configurator.
To establish the SQL Server connection using TCP/IP:
Select Administrative Tools, and then double-click Data Sources (ODBC).
In the list of drivers, highlight SQL Server, and then click Finish.
Enter a data source name, description, the data server name for the SQL Server to which to connect, and click Next.
Select this authentication option: With SQL Server authentication using a login ID and password entered by the user.
Click Client Configuration, select TCP/IP (if not selected), and then click OK.
For Connect to SQL Server, enter the login ID and password, and then click Next.
Change the default database to the Financial Management database.
When you receive the success message, click OK, and then click OK to close the dialog box.