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Test connection from Password Secure Application Server to Microsoft SQL Server using a UDL file

Tobias Nessel
Updated

Description

A UDL (Universal Data Link) file can be used to verify whether the Password Secure Application Server can successfully establish a connection to a Microsoft SQL Server.
This procedure helps quickly identify network, authentication, or configuration issues between the application and the database.

Procedure

1. Create a UDL file

  1. On the server where the Password Secure Application Server is installed, open Windows Explorer.
  2. Navigate to any folder (e.g. C:\Temp).
  3. Create a new text file, for example named test.udl.

  4. Change the file extension from .txt to .udl.

    Example: test.txt → test.udl
    If file extensions are not visible, enable “File name extensions” in Explorer under View → File name extensions.

2. Open the Data Link Properties dialog

  1. Double-click the test.udl file.
    The “Microsoft Data Link Properties” dialog opens.
  2. Switch to the Provider tab and select:
    • Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server
  3. Click Next →.

3. Configure the connection

  1. Under “1. Provide the name of the server”, enter the hostname or IP address of the SQL Server.

    Example: SQLSERVER01\INSTANCE or 192.168.0.10

  2. Choose the authentication method:
    • Windows Authentication (for AD authentication), or
    • SQL Server Authentication (for SQL login)
  3. Under the “3. Select the database on the server” section, choose the Password Secure database (e.g. PasswordSecure).

4. Test the connection

  1. Click Test Connection.

  2. If successful, you will see the message:

    “Test connection succeeded.”

  3. If the test fails, check:
    • Firewall or network settings between the Application Server and SQL instance
    • Correctness of authentication credentials
    • Validity of SQL instance name and port settings
    • That SQL Server services are running

5. Delete or retain the file

After a successful test, the test.udl file should be deleted.

Note: The file may store credential information in plain text!

Note

This method is intended purely for diagnosing connection issues.
For normal operation, the SQL connection for the Password Secure Application Server must be configured as described in the official documentation.

Further Information

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