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ASP FAQ Tutorials :: Databases :: Other Articles :: Why can't I access a database or text file on another server?
Why can't I access a database or text file on another server?
If the file is outside your LAN
Access isn't really designed for this type of application (see Article #2195 for more info), and if you need your database server to reside on a separate machine from your web server, it might be time to look for a more scalable database (e.g. SQL Server or Oracle). However, there is a way to connect to an Access database over the web, assuming you know the absolute file structure of the remote server (and know this won't change). Keep in mind that Access is not the most prudent performer on the same machine as the web site, and is likely to be more problematic over the web (which has many more variables). Here is a sample connection string:
I have received feedback that this "doesn't work"--while I have no idea what "doesn't work" means, I can say that along with the performance issues of using this kind of solution, there is also a painful configuration process that must be followed. NTFS permissions, firewalls, existence of MSADC, and several other issues might prevent this from working. The most common error I have seen is:
If you are getting this error, please refer to KB #251122 and KB #184606. Other permissions problems might be solved by referring to KB #253580.
For text files, you can read the contents of remote text files by using XML or one of the many ASP components designed for performing an HTTP "tear" or screen scrape--see Article #2173 for more info and a detailed example.
If the file is within your LAN
If you are using Windows Authentication, see KB #197964.
If the remote file is on a Novell file server, see KB #178045.
If the file is on a UNC share (\\servername\sharename\), see KB #308150 for walk-throughs of configuring virtual directories from remote shares.
If you are using anonymous access, you can accomplish this by synchronizing the anonymous user accounts on the two machines.
Synchronizing the IUSR_machine accounts
Let's say you have MachineA and MachineB. MachineB has a text file or Access database, in a share, that you want to have control over from your ASP application on MachineA. With a stock server setup, you should get one of many 80004005 errors with Microsoft Access, most commonly:
Or one of the following errors with FileSystemObject:
To give MachineA access to MachineB's shares, you need to fuss with the Anonymous User employed by IIS (IUSR_MachineA, in this case).
First, on MachineA, you need to go to Internet Services Manager, right-click Default Web Site (or the application in question).
Under the Directory Security tab, click 'Edit...' under 'Anonymous Access and Authentication Control.'
On Windows 2000, you will have to click 'Edit...' again under the Anonymous Access checkbox.
Uncheck "Allow IIS to control password" and enter a new password. When you click OK, you will be asked to confirm.
Click OK, Apply, OK, and close out of ISM. If prompted to save console settings, say Yes / OK.
On MachineB, go into Local Users and Groups--under Computer Management, add a user named IUSR_MachineA with the same password as above.
In Windows Explorer on MachineB, right-click the share in question, hit Properties, and on the SECURITY tab Add... the new local user, and give appropriate permissions. Hit Apply, Apply, OK.
Now run your ASP file from the original server, and all should be fine.
If you are still getting the error, check that you haven't exceeded the connection limit of the machine with the share. If it is Windows 2000 / XP Pro, only 10 anonymous users can be connected to it at a time. Consider using a server operating system for hosting such a share, or hosting the share on the web server itself (that way IIS will be able to grab the files locally, and interactive users will simply have to refer to the share on a different machine).
See KB #207671 and KB #189408 for more info.
Access isn't really designed for this type of application (see Article #2195 for more info), and if you need your database server to reside on a separate machine from your web server, it might be time to look for a more scalable database (e.g. SQL Server or Oracle). However, there is a way to connect to an Access database over the web, assuming you know the absolute file structure of the remote server (and know this won't change). Keep in mind that Access is not the most prudent performer on the same machine as the web site, and is likely to be more problematic over the web (which has many more variables). Here is a sample connection string:
| <% set conn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") conn.open "Provider=MS Remote;" &_ "Remote Server=http://<ip address or server name>;" &_ "Remote Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" &_ "Data Source=c:\inetpub\wwwroot\file1.mdb;" %> |
I have received feedback that this "doesn't work"--while I have no idea what "doesn't work" means, I can say that along with the performance issues of using this kind of solution, there is also a painful configuration process that must be followed. NTFS permissions, firewalls, existence of MSADC, and several other issues might prevent this from working. The most common error I have seen is:
| Error Type: Microsoft ADO/RDS (0x800A20FF) Internet Server Error. |
If you are getting this error, please refer to KB #251122 and KB #184606. Other permissions problems might be solved by referring to KB #253580.
For text files, you can read the contents of remote text files by using XML or one of the many ASP components designed for performing an HTTP "tear" or screen scrape--see Article #2173 for more info and a detailed example.
If the file is within your LAN
If you are using Windows Authentication, see KB #197964.
If the remote file is on a Novell file server, see KB #178045.
If the file is on a UNC share (\\servername\sharename\), see KB #308150 for walk-throughs of configuring virtual directories from remote shares.
If you are using anonymous access, you can accomplish this by synchronizing the anonymous user accounts on the two machines.
Synchronizing the IUSR_machine accounts
Let's say you have MachineA and MachineB. MachineB has a text file or Access database, in a share, that you want to have control over from your ASP application on MachineA. With a stock server setup, you should get one of many 80004005 errors with Microsoft Access, most commonly:
| Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005' [Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access 97 Driver] The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file '(unknown)'. It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data. or Microsoft JET Database Engine error '80040e69' Could not start session. or Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005' [Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access 97 Driver] Disk or network error. |
Or one of the following errors with FileSystemObject:
| Microsoft VBScript runtime (0x800A0046) Permission denied or Microsoft VBScript runtime (0x800A004C) Path not found or Server object error 'ASP 0177 : 800a0046' Server.CreateObject Failed |
To give MachineA access to MachineB's shares, you need to fuss with the Anonymous User employed by IIS (IUSR_MachineA, in this case).
First, on MachineA, you need to go to Internet Services Manager, right-click Default Web Site (or the application in question).
Under the Directory Security tab, click 'Edit...' under 'Anonymous Access and Authentication Control.'
On Windows 2000, you will have to click 'Edit...' again under the Anonymous Access checkbox.
Uncheck "Allow IIS to control password" and enter a new password. When you click OK, you will be asked to confirm.
Click OK, Apply, OK, and close out of ISM. If prompted to save console settings, say Yes / OK.
On MachineB, go into Local Users and Groups--under Computer Management, add a user named IUSR_MachineA with the same password as above.
In Windows Explorer on MachineB, right-click the share in question, hit Properties, and on the SECURITY tab Add... the new local user, and give appropriate permissions. Hit Apply, Apply, OK.
Now run your ASP file from the original server, and all should be fine.
If you are still getting the error, check that you haven't exceeded the connection limit of the machine with the share. If it is Windows 2000 / XP Pro, only 10 anonymous users can be connected to it at a time. Consider using a server operating system for hosting such a share, or hosting the share on the web server itself (that way IIS will be able to grab the files locally, and interactive users will simply have to refer to the share on a different machine).
See KB #207671 and KB #189408 for more info.
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