"Error 18456" error message when you specify configuration database settings on the Set Configuration Database Server page of SharePoint Central Administration (889646)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services

SYMPTOMS

You run the Setup program to install Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services. After the Setup program is completed successfully, you configure Windows SharePoint Services settings in SharePoint Central Administration. You specify configuration database settings on the Set Configuration Database Server page of SharePoint Central Administration, and then you click OK. Then, you receive one of the following error messages:
Login failed for user 'DOMAINNAME\ACCOUNTNAME'. (Error code: 18456).
Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE'. (Error code: 18456)

CAUSE

The application pool runs as a certain account. If that account does not have database creation rights in Microsoft SQL Server, this issue may occur. Specifically, this issue may occur if the account is not a member of the Security Administrators role or of the Database Creators role.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, you must add an account to the Database Creators role and to the Security Administrators role in Microsoft SQL Server. You add the account that the application pool is running as. To do this:
  1. Add the account that the application pool is running as to the Security Administrators role and to the Database Creators role in SQL Server. To do this:
    1. Start SQL Server Enterprise Manager.
    2. Expand Microsoft SQL Servers, expand the server group, expand the appropriate server, and then expand Security.
    3. Right-click Logins, and then click New Login.
    4. Type the account name in the Name box. Use the following format for the account name:

      DomainName\AccountName

      Note If SQL Server is installed on a separate computer and you want to run the application pool as the Network Service account, the computer that is running Windows SharePoint Services must have permissions to access the remote computer that is running SQL Server. On the remote computer that is running SQL Server, add the DomainName\ServerName$ account to the Database Creators role and to the Security Administrators role.
    5. Click the Server Roles tab.
    6. In the Server Role list, click to select the Security Administrators check box, and then click to select the Database Creators check box. Click OK.
    7. Quit SQL Server Enterprise Manager.
  2. On the Configure Administrative Virtual Server page of SharePoint Central Administration, create a new application pool, specify the account as the application pool account, and then click OK. The Application Pool Changed page is displayed.
  3. Restart Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS). To do this, click Start, click Run, type iisreset in the Open box, and then click OK.
  4. On the Application Pool Changed page, click OK. On the Set Configuration Database Server page of SharePoint Central Administration, specify the configuration database settings.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to install, to configure, and to administer Windows SharePoint Services, see the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 Administrator's Guide. To obtain the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 Administrator's Guide, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a637eff6-8224-4b19-a6a4-3e33fa13d230&displaylang=en

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/15/2004
Keywords:kbsetup kberrmsg kbprb kbtshoot KB889646 kbAudITPRO
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