ArcCatalog Failed to Connect to Database

Question

Good morning,

After upgrading Microsoft Sql server Management Studio in my workstation, ArcCatalog cannot connect to SDE geodatabases anymore, I am getting the error message "Failed to Connect to database.  Failure to access the DBMS server"

I can connect to the same sde geodatabase using ArcGIS Pro.

We are using SQL server database for SDE.

Thanks

ryanuthoff · Answer

I have both driver 17 and 19 installed, so yeah, it should be possible.

JoseSanchez · Answer

Hi @RyanUth

Can I have both drivers intalled?

ryanuthoff · Answer

I'm not 100% sure, but it's possible that upgrading SSMS also upgraded your SQL drivers which Esri uses. Considering that ArcMap/ArcCatalog is now retired and no longer being supported, it's possible that ArcCatalog is not compatible with whatever driver the SSMS update installed.

The highest ODBC driver ArcCatalog 10.8.x supports is 17. https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/system-requirements/latest/database-requirements-sqlserver.htm

So the first thing that I'd check is what ODBC drivers you have installed, and if they're still compatible with ArcMap.