I have spent almost 2 days to trouble shoot the Planning content store connection with SQL Server 2005 without luck. I have created accounts and started the service of both SQL Server and Cognos Planning with service accounts.
I get this error when i try to "test" the content store under Content Manager
[ ERROR ] The database connection failed.
[ ERROR ] Content Manager is unable to access the content store. Verify your database connection parameters, and then contact your database administrator for assistance.
1 - Don't use Trusted connections - always use SQL accounts to connect to content stores
2 - If this is a fresh install (including SQL2005), make sure your sqlserver topology allows for remote connections
3 - Databases are created (and empty) ahead of time
4 - Account is either: sa rights; dbo of content store databases
5 - Workstation components for SQL2005 (full set) are installed to the server (this would pull in SQL Native Client, also a requirement)
Hello
Also check the install of SQL Server 2005.
In SQL Configuration Manager
Check Protocols for MSSQLSERVER (I needed to enable Named Pipes and TCP/IP)
Check Client Protocols (I needed to enable Named Pipes and TCP/IP)
Enabling these protocols of course will cause a security issue. So you may need to play with the settings.
Regards
Stuart