Configuring Windows processing servers for your data source

When started on Windows, Job Servers and Page Servers by default log on to the local system as services with the Windows NT/2000 "LocalSystem" account. This account determines the permissions that each service is granted on the local machine. This account does not grant the service any network permissions.

In the majority of cases, this account is irrelevant in relation to the server's task of processing reports against your data source. (The database logon credentials are stored with the report object.) Thus, you can usually leave each server's default logon account unchanged or, if you prefer, you can change it to a Windows user account with the appropriate permissions.

However, there are certain cases when you must change the logon account used by the Job Servers and Page Servers. These cases arise either because the server needs additional network permissions to access the database, or because the database client software is configured for a particular Windows user account. This table lists the various database/driver combinations and shows when you must complete additional configuration.

Tip:    If your reports require ODBC connections, set up identical System Data Source Names (DSNs) on each machine that is running a Job Server or a Page Server. Ensure that each of these DSNs matches the DSN that was used when the report was designed.

Database Driver Additional Configuration Required

Oracle

Native

ODBC (CROR8) OLE DB

None

Sybase

Native

ODBC (CRSYB)

None

Lotus Domino

Native

None

Microsoft SQL Server

Native

ODBC (CRSS)

OLE DB

If you use SQL Server's "Trusted Connection" setting, change each server's log on account to a Windows user account that has permissions within the database. (In this case, the database logon credentials stored with the report object should be blank.)

DB2

Native

None

DB2

ODBC (CRDB2)

For on-demand viewing, configure the Page Server to close idle jobs after one minute, thereby allowing other users to access the database. For details, see Modifying Page Server performance settings.

Tip:    IBM offers several client applications for connecting to DB2. The recommended client is IBM DB2 Direct Connect, whose ODBC drivers were written for actual programmatic interaction with products like Crystal Enterprise. See the Crystal Care Knowledge Base for discussions of this and other DB2 clients.

Informix

Native

  • Change the log on account for each Job Server/Page Server to the account under which the Informix client was installed.
  • Add the Informix bin directory to the System Path (for example, C:\Informix\bin) environment variable.

Informix

ODBC (CRINF9)

  • Change the log on account for each Job Server/Page Server to the Windows user account under which the Informix client was installed.
  • For on-demand viewing, configure the Page Server to close idle jobs after one minute, thereby allowing other users to access the database. For details, see Modifying Page Server performance settings.

Microsoft Exchange


  • Ensure that the Exchange profile is set up on the local machine.
  • Change the log on account of each Job Server/Page Server to the Windows user account that has access to the mailbox in which the report data is located.

PC databases

(Btrieve, Microsoft Access, Paradox, XML)

Native, ODBC

  • If the database is installed on the server's local machine, no additional configuration is required.
  • If the Job Server/Page Server must access the database over the network, change the server's log on account to a Windows domain user account that has the appropriate network permissions. Ensure that the account has READ access to the shared resource.

Tip:    Running a service under an Administrator account does not inadvertently grant administrative privileges to another user, because users cannot impersonate services.

To change a processing server's logon account
  1. Use the CCM to stop the Job Server or Page Server.
  2. Click Properties.
  3. Clear the System Account check box.
  4. Enter the Windows NT/2000 user name and password information.

    When started, the server process will log on to the local machine with this user account. In addition, all reports processed by this server will be formatted using the printer settings associated with the user account that you enter.

  5. Click Apply, and then click OK.
  6. Start the server.

    Note:    Repeat this procedure for each Job Server and Page Server that needs to access the database.



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