Attaching Databases to the File System Service

Each database that you would like to synchronize using the File System Service should be “attached” to the service using the Database Properties dialog window, available from the MetaCommunications console. Attaching a database involves specifying the location of the computer running the Microsoft SQL Server database software, the name of the database, and the user name and password that the service should use when logging into the SQL Server in order to access the database.

Note: This and subsequent instructions in this chapter assume that the MetaCommunications console has already been opened and that the File System Service Snap-in is present.

Attaching a database to the File System Service

1. Expand the MetaCommunications Services:File System Service sub-tree in the tree portion of the MetaCommunications console, right-click “Databases” and select Attach Database. This will open a new Database Properties dialog window.

Note: The Database Properties dialog window may also be opened by expanding the File System Service sub-tree, clicking “Databases” and clicking the Attach New Database ( ) button in the toolbar.

2. Type the location of the computer running Microsoft SQL Server in the “SQL Server location” field, or leave the field blank if SQL Server is running on the same computer as the File System Service. The location may be entered as a hostname (e.g. Host_Computer), or as an IP address. You may also click to browse for the computer.

3. Type the name of the database you would like to attach in the “Database name” field.

4. Type the user name and password of the SQL Server login that the File System Service should use when logging into SQL Server in the corresponding fields.

Note: The Excluded checkbox indicates whether the database should be synchronized with the file server: when the checkbox is ‘checked’, the database is not synchronized by the File System Service. The checkbox may be used to temporarily disable synchronization for the database.

5. Optional: Click the Test Connection button to test whether the File System Service is able to connect to the database using the SQL Server location, database name, user name, and password you have provided. The service will display an alert message indicating whether the test was successful. If the database connection test fails, repeat steps 2-5 and try again.

6. Optional: If you would like to modify the default File System Service synchronization and deleter options, you may do so by clicking the “Options” and “Deleter” folder tabs. Please “Setting Synchronization and Deleter Options for a Database” of this chapter for detailed instructions.
7. Click OK. This will attach the database to the File System Service and display the database host and name in the “Databases” listing.

Note: When you click OK, the File System Service automatically performs the database connection test described in step 5.

8. Repeat steps 1-8 for each database you would like to attach to the File System Service.

At this point, the database(s) that you would like to be synchronized with your file server(s) have been attached to the File System Service, and you may complete the configuration of the File System Service for each database by specifying the file server folders to be synchronized.