Sql-server – Recommended service account setup for MS SQL Server 2005/2008

If we're talking SQL Server 2005, the SQL Server Reporting Service is a scheduling engine. It does not determine the web application side. So changing the service account there shouldn't have an effect on the web app. With that said, how are you changing the service account? It should be done using Reporting Services configuration and SQL Server Configuration Manager.

From My understanding of this issue it's a "HOP" issue.

i.e. you are trying to use server A to relay your login details (with SSPI) to Server B.

In SQL Server 2005 they have added a whole load of security issues that make this harder than it should be. The words "Kerberos Authentication" will become the bain of most sys-admins/DBA's lives. It effectively is used for pass-through authentication.

Here are the basics of what you need. 1) The servers (A and B) need to be set-up in Active Directory(AD) with delegation for Kerberos enabled. (this is set through your active directory admin panel)

2) The service account that your SQL Servers run under need to have delegation enabled also (this is also set through your active directory admin panel). - if they are not running under a service account, you need to create one.

3) The Servers need to have SPN's defined for the instance and the HOST and the machine name. (Using a tool called SetSPN in the windows support tools)

Support Tools (SetSPN is in this set) http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=96a35011-fd83-419d-939b-9a772ea2df90&DisplayLang=en

(Overview of how to add an SPN) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb735885.aspx

4) You may need to set your DB to "trustworthy"

ALTER DATABASE SET trustworthy on

5) After you have all of this done restart your instances.

6) Then try create your linked server again.

Finally you can test your connection to SQL Server. This should work fine if you have it all configured correctly.

SELECT *
FROM OPENDATASOURCE('SQLNCLI',
    'Data Source=ServerB;Integrated Security=SSPI;'
    ).MASTER.dbo.syscolumns

This will tell you your connection authentication type.

select auth_scheme from sys.dm_exec_connections where session_id=@@SPID

You want to get 'KERBEROS' here and not 'NTLM'.

It's a slippy slope, KERBEROS and Pass-through delegation, stick with it and you will eventually figure it out.

References Kerberos http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols/archive/2005/10/12/479871.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols/archive/2006/12/02/understanding-kerberos-and-ntlm-authentication-in-sql-server-connections.aspx

http://blogs.iis.net/brian-murphy-booth/archive/2007/03/09/the-biggest-mistake-serviceprincipalname-s.aspx

Other manifestations of the problem http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic460425-359-1.aspx

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa905162(sql.80).aspx

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189580.aspx

I hope this all helps.