Category Archives: VMware

Preparing Server 2008 R2 for vCenter Server 5

If you are installing VMware vCenter5 and you notice that their are no connectors for connecting to a remote msSQL database, here is how to add a new ODBC connector to get things up and running.

  1. 1. Install .NET framework tools 3.5 (Can be done by adding a Feature and in the Server Manager of Server 2008 R2)
  2. Download and install the Microsoft SQL Server Native Client for Server 2008
    1. http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123718&clcid=0x409
  3. Create a new ODBC connection
    1. To do this, try installing the ODBC connection through the control panel by going to: Control Panel ->Administrative Tools -> Data Sources (ODBC)
      1. NOTE: If you notice later on that vServer doesn't find an ODBC source, try opening the configuration manager with an elevated command prompt and type in
        1. c:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe
  4. Click on the System DSN tab
  5. Click Add
  6. Click on SQL Server Native Client 10.0
  7. Click Finish
  8. Type in the name, description, and server to connect to.
  9. Click Next
  10. Fill out how you want to authenticate
  11. Click Next
  12. Change the default database to whateveryourdatabaseiscalled
  13. Click Next
  14. Click Next
  15. Finish
  16. Test Data Source...

--You should see "TESTS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY!"