We were getting some errors appear in the event logs of a clients SBS server recently, all of which came down to a minor tweak that was needed to be made to the Windows Internal Database.
The Windows Internal Database ships with Windows 2008 and can also be referred to by the catchy name of MICROSOFT#SSEE. It’s also included in Windows Server Update Services and Windows Sharepoint Services. It has some important restrictions but the main one for us was that it can only be access via named pipes. This means that, to use SQL Server Management Express, you need to change the initial authentication settings. Here’s a quick guide.
1) If you try to authenticate against the Microsoft#SSEE instance using the default settings shown by SQL Management Studio Express you will see an error like ;
Authentication Error
2) If you are using Windows 2008 then right click the SQL Management Studio Express icon and in your programs list and choose Run As Administrator. Otherwise just load it as normal.
Run as Administrator
3) Change the authentication details to the following and logon;
Server Name: \\.\pipe\MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE\sql\query
Authentication: Windows Authentication
The correct authentication details
4) Voila! You should be able to see your Windows Internal Database databases.
Windows Internal Databases
