Unable to create SDE database connections

JadedEarth

Hi,

Previously, I can launch ArcMap or ArcCatalog and create a database connection to our SQL Server databases.

Today, when I try to create a database connection to SQL Server, it flags me saying

    "Unable to connect to database server to retrieve database list; please verify your server name, user name, and password info and try again.  Connection was attempted with an older version of SQL Server client communications software that is not supported."

However, when I try this on another computer with same version of ArcMap/ArcCatalog (version 10.5.0.6491, it works without problem.  I'm connecting to the same server on our network.

What is going on?  Appreciate any help.

KimberlyGarbade

See below for a link to the ESRI docs about connecting ArcMap to a SQL Server EGDB.

Connect to Microsoft SQL Server from ArcGIS—ArcMap | Documentation

I think every machine running ArcMap has to have the appropriate SQL Server drivers installed. Back when this was happening to me installing the SQL Native Client installed the drivers I needed (that was 4 or 5 years ago), but maybe today its just an SQL driver you get from Microsoft... about half way down the page is the title: 

I would try installing the recommended SQL Server drivers again on the problem machine... maybe something has gone wrong with the drivers installed there already.

The only other thing I can think of is that the user name and password might be wrong and the message you are getting is just generic for both errors (I.E. connection problems AND login problems)... but the UN and PW worked on the other computer so I doubt that's it.