New Data Source Page

Use the New Data Source page page to create, view, and modify a shared data source item. A shared data source defines a connection to an external data source. With a shared data source, you can create and maintain the settings for the data source connection separately from the reports that use the data source.

To open this page, click New Data Source from a Contents page.

Options

Name

Type a name for the shared data source, which is used to identify the item within the report server namespace.

Description

Provide information about the shared data source. This description appears on the Contents page.

Enable this data source

Select to enable or disable the shared data source. You can disable the shared data source to prevent report processing for all reports that reference the item.

Connection Type

Specify the data processing extension that is used to process data from the data source. Report server includes data processing extensions for SQL Server, SQL Server Analysis Services, Oracle, ODBC, and OLE DB. Additional data processing extensions may be available from third-party vendors.

Connection String

Specify the connection string that the report server uses to connect to the data source. The following example illustrates a connection string used to connect to the SQL Server AdventureWorks database:

data source=<a SQL Server instance>;initial catalog=AdventureWorks2000

Connect Using

Specify options that determine how credentials are obtained.

Important  If credentials are provided in the connection string, the options and values provided in this section are ignored. Note that if you specify credentials on the connection string, the values are displayed in clear text to all users who view this page.

The credentials supplied by the user running the report

Each user must type in a user name and password to access the data source.

You can define the prompt text that requests user credentials. The default text string is "Enter a user name and password to access the data source."

Select Use as Windows credentials when connecting to the data source if the credentials that the user provides are Windows Authentication credentials. Do not select this check box if you are using database authentication (for example, SQL Server Authentication).

Credentials stored securely in the report server

Store an encrypted user name and password in the report server database. Choose this option to run a report unattended (for example, reports that are initiated by schedules or events instead of user action).

Choose Use as Windows credentials when connecting to the data source if the credentials are Windows Authentication credentials. Do not select this check box if you are using database authentication (for example, SQL Server Authentication).

Choose Impersonate the authenticated user after a connection has been made to the data source to allow delegation of credentials, but only if a data source supports impersonation. For SQL Server databases, this option sets the SETUSER function.

Windows NT Integrated Security

Use the Windows credentials of the current user to access the data source. Choose this option when the credentials that are used to access a data source are the same as those used to logon to the network domain.

This option works best when Kerberos is enabled for your domain, or when the data source is on the same computer as the report server. If Kerberos is not enabled, Windows credentials can be passed to one other computer. If additional computer connections are required, you will get an error instead of the data you expect.

Do not use this option to run unattended reports or reports that are available for subscription. The report server initiates the running of unattended reports. The credentials of the report server that are used to access the report server database cannot be used to access external data sources.

Credentials are not required

Specify that credentials are not required to access the data source. Note that if a data source requires a user login, choosing this option will have no affect. You should only choose this option if the data source connection does not require user credentials.

When you configure a data source to use no credentials, you must perform additional steps if the report that uses the data source is to support subscriptions, scheduled report history, or scheduled report execution. Specifically, you must create a low privileged account that the report server uses when running the report. This account is used in place of the service account that the report server normally runs under. For more information about this account, see "Configuring an Account for Unattended Report Processing.

Apply

Click Apply to save your changes.

See Also

Contents Page

Report Manager Help

Installing and Using Reporting Services Books Online

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