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** Troubleshooting ** 'Couldn't connect to source database. Check your settings' when testing source (inside FAP Client)

Troubleshooting


Problem

User launches the FAP Client ("IBM Cognos FAP"), and logs into a FAP database successfully. User clicks tab "Sources", highlights an existing source and clicks "Edit". User clicks "Test Connection". An error message appears.

Symptom


No connection
Couldn't connect to source database. Check your settings.
[OK]

Cause

There are several known causes for this message:
  • Scenario #1 - Limitation of Controller 10.2.x, when run on 64-bit device, if connecting to Oracle
  • Scenario #2 - (Rare) Issue occasionally seen when copying FAP databases between environments, where the password can only be successfully changed/saved directly inside the SQL database
  • Scenario #3 - (Controller on Cloud only) This is by design of the Controller-on-Cloud product offering
    • TIP: For more details, see separate IBM Technote #0738393

Resolving The Problem

Scenario #1

Use the Microsoft .NET utility 'CorFlags.exe' to modify the file 'fapclient.exe' to change its bitness to be 64-bit.

Scenario #2 (rare)

In one real-life example, it was necessary to change the data source details (for example password) directly inside the SQL database table.

Steps:

1. Launch SQL Management Studio

2. Locate/expand the FAP database

3. Right-click on the table 'NRTR_SOURCE' and choose 'Edit top 200 rows'




4. Modify the relevant details (inside "Password" and "CCRDBUrl" manually"
5. Close the table, to commit the changes.
Scenario #3 - (Controller on Cloud only)
This is by design of the Controller-on-Cloud product offering
  • TIP: For more details, see separate IBM Technote #0738393

[{"Product":{"code":"SS9S6B","label":"IBM Cognos Controller"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Component":"Controller","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"10.2.0;10.2.1;10.3","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB10","label":"Data and AI"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
02 July 2019

UID

swg21403948