Upgraded to ArcMap 10.8.1 and can't connect to SQL database anymore (can still connect through Pro)

Question

A user in my organization just had an upgrade to ArcMap 10.8.1 and can now no longer connect to the Enterprise GDB using an SDE connection file (we tried OS authentication and a SQL built-in account). The user can still connect through Pro and was able to connect using the same file in 10.7.1. He also can make the connection successfully when logged into a VM with 10.7.1 installed. Has anyone seen this issue before?

SQL info - Microsoft SQL Server 2019, hosted on Azure.

Meroni · Answer

Had the same issue. On my dev-machine were ODBC version 13, 17 and 18 installed. After deinstalling everything except version 17 I could connect to my sde using arcmap 10.8.x.

MMBR · Answer

community.esri.com blog article
How to Install the SQL Server Client for ArcGIS?

System Requirements

ArcGIS requirements for SQL Server

Tip: For ArcGIS releases prior to 10.9 and ArcGIS Pro 2.8, see the system requirements on the ArcGIS Desktop website.

Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server

* if you have ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.2 and ArcGIS Pro 3.1 installed on the same machine,
* and you want to connect to SQL Server Geodatabases then
* make sure you have only the Microsoft ODBC Driver Version 17 installed.
* ArcGIS Pro 3.1 works with Microsoft ODBC Driver Version 18 and 17.
* but ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.2 works only with Microsoft ODBC Driver Version 17.

ChadKopplin · Answer

They work for 10.7.1 as well.  Thank you, Chad