Can’t connect to SQL Server 2005 using PHP

Posted on October 21st, 2008 webmaster No comments          Print

I was updating our web application last Friday and I needed it to connect to an SQL Server 2005 Express Edition database to query some tables but my application couldn’t connect to the MSSQL server.

After a few hours of searching the internet and trying different things I finally got it to work by downloading a newer version of ntwdblib.dll (version 2000.80.194.0) and replacing the one that came with PHP 5.2 (we’re using WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) btw).

In our case, I had to put it in wamp\php, wamp\Apache2\bin, and C:\Wndows\System32.

Also, in your application, don’t forget to add the instance name of the SQL Server in your connection string (eg. server1\instanceName).

Here’s an example connection string for ADOdb (it worked for me without specifying the port number):

‘mssql://admin:password111@webserver01\\SQLEXPRESS/Database1′

I don’t remember the URL where I found this solution, I’ll post it here if I find it again.

Security Warning: “The publisher could not be verified”

Posted on October 20th, 2008 webmaster No comments          Print

Warning Message: “The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software?”

I got this warning message last week while testing a group policy object to run a small program from a network drive when users log in to the domain.

After some googling, it turned out that this feature was added in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and it checks whether the program has a digital signature attached.

To prevent this from appearing do the following:

1. Open the Group Policy management console (Start->Run->gpedit.msc)
2. Go to User Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Attachment Manager
3. Enable “Inclusion list for moderate risk file types“
4. Add .exe to the list

Source: http://davestechshop.net/archive/2006/10/30/IE7PublisherCouldNotBeVerified.aspx

Microsoft Virtualization Launch Event

Posted on October 18th, 2008 webmaster 1 comment          Print

Just saw this on Microsoft’s website, you can register here: http://www.getvirtualnow.com/usevents/cityselect.aspx

Here are the sessions:

Session I: Server Virtualization and Management
An inside look at Hyper-V and System Center Virtual Machine Manager from an architectural and a real world point of view. Complete with live demo’s of real life scenarios, and even a look at SCVMM managing VMWare ESX servers.

Session II: How Microsoft IT builds Dynamic Data Centers
A look at the current and future Microsoft Data Center. See how Microsoft IT, one of the world’s largest IT organizations, uses Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V to provide dynamic, scalable, and real-time adjustment to business needs.

Session III: Understanding Virtualization at the Desktop Level
The future of the Enterprise Desktop is very exciting, and Microsoft Virtualization technologies like Softgrid (App-V), Med-V, MDOP, VECD and Terminal Services are in the middle of it all. This session will provide an understanding of the directions of the industry, and highlight the capabilities of the technologies available, as well as look at what the future will bring.

I’m planning on going to the one in New York on November 3 if my manager approves it.  If not, then I’ll take a day off so I can attend the event .