Connection to database 'xyzxy' failed Error creating ArcSDE direct connection (-9).

[SelcanGuner]

I try to install ArcSDE (10) for SQLServer 2008. When I do post install I get an error during repository setup process which says "The ArcSDE repository unsuccessfully completed".In the txt file details are:

Connection to MyDatabase failed(0)

ESRI ArcSDE Server Setup Utility ....... Sep ............
----------------------------------------------------------------
Error creating ArcSDE direct connection (-9)

It does not move on post install .. Do you have any idea what is the problem and the solution for it.. Thank you for spending time on my problem..

[VishApte]

I had exact same error and took a while to determine the cause.

I was doing the ArcSDE 10 64 bit post-install as SDE user and was specifying the SDE password that did not meet SQL Server 2008 R2 login password policy. Would be nice if SDE Post-install gives native SQL error code.

[DeminHu]

During postinstallation,  did you use Sysadmin user?

[ChrisWright]

No kidding. Why does the ArcSDE post installer let you create a password that can't be used? this installer has not changed much in 10 years and the Oracle post installer is even worse.