Hello!
(first, thankyou for taking the time to read this!)

I have an intranet. I have Windows 2000 server/ SQL Server2000/
AnalysisServices.

Users have Win2000 / office 2000 on the local intranet.

I have set up cubes, and setup connection to the cubes via Excel using
"Microsoft OLE DB Provider for OLAP Services 8.0".

LOCAL users on the intranet ARE ABLE to connect to the cubes, by finding the
Excel sheet I have placed on the intranet. Seeing the xls file, they are
able to choose to Open the file in EXCEL or "Browse" the file in a Browser
window. In both cases they are able to see the excel tabs, and
interactively change dimensions. This is good. But.

Employees signon remotely to the intranet through their browsers by entering
the address of our intranet and inputting their domain\username and Password
at the prompt.thus authenticating to the domain.

When coming in thru the intranet, Users navigate to the my saved Excel file
and open it. They are immediately able to see the excel data (in either
Excel or Browser). Also, the OWC "Dimension Picker" window pops up.
However, when they attempt to change a dimension a window pops up asking
them to "Choose the location of the Multidimensional data source that you
want to use." (A note on the window says, "You need to provide
authentication information only if you are establishing an HTTP connection.)
I don't know of any answers that allow one to get past this window. After
that, I get the message:

"Unable to connect to the Analysis server. The server name 'xxxxxxxx' was
not found. Please verify that the name you entered is correct, and then try
again."

Yes.. I am sure the name is correct.

4 Questions:

1. Why is the local intranet browser enabled to connect to the Cubes
without 'authentication'?

2. What is the difference that prevents a remote user from connecting
and that forces that window to pop up? Or, why can't the remote user find
the Analysis cube?

3. Is it possible that HTTP connections to an Analysis server are only
allowed with an Enterprise server? (if so, how did the local users connect
via browser?)

4. Any general suggestions on what I am trying to accomplish? (i.e.
using OWC through the internet, passing through the company firewall into
the company's intranet to reach an Analysis server).

Other background: Remote users Have installed PTSlite.exe. (on some remote
users, a full version of AS2000 is installed, and still the same message
shows up.)

I have set the options on the internet browser of the remote client to trust
the local domain.

I have ensured that port 2725 is opened on the protective firewall of the
company.

Finally, thanks to all you contributors for your help.(not just to my
question, but to all the questions).

Analysis Services requires NT authentication. When you attempt to bring up a
web page with an OWC ActiveX control,
the actual connection is not being made from the web server to the Analysis
server -- rather OWC is attempting to make
a connection directly from your client machine to the Analysis server. The
end-user MUST have valid NT credentials that
can be validated on the Analysis server. My guess is that since users are
being prompted by the ASP application, they are
NOT in a valid, trusted domain with the Analysis server. This is required
for Standard Edition (it only supports direct client/server
connections.

With Enterprise Edition, you get a second access method called "http
access". This allows you to specify a username and password that can be used
to log you into a mid-tier web server running the "http data pump".

For more information on this, look at the "Improved Web Connectivity in
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services" white paper located at:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...l_datapump.asp

Hope that helps.
--
Dave Wickert [MS]
dwickert (AT) online (DOT) microsoft.com
Program Manager
BI Practices Team
SQL BI Product Unit (Analysis Services)
--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


"Steve" <sschneider1 (AT) triad (DOT) rr.com> wrote