How To Create a System Data Source Name (DSN) in Windows 2000

A Data Source Name (DSN) is the logical name that is used by Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) to refer to the drive and other information that is required to access data. The name is use by Internet Information Services for a connection to an ODBC data source, such as a Microsoft SQL Server database. To set this name, use the ODBC tool in Control Panel.

When you use an ODBC DSN entry to store the connection string values externally, you simplify the information that is needed in the connection string. This makes changes to the data source completely transparent to the code itself.

To Create a System DSN in Windows 2000

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then double-click Data Sources (ODBC).
   
   NOTE: In Windows 2000 Professional, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Data Sources (ODBC).
2. Click the System DSN tab.
3. Click Add.
4. Click the database driver that corresponds with the database type to which you are connecting, and then click Finish.
5. Type the data source name. Make sure to you a name that you will remember. You will need to use this name later.
6. Click Select.
7. Click the correct database, and then click OK.
8. Click OK in the next two dialog boxes.

Troubleshooting

Make sure that you create a system DSN. ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) does not recognize user (or local) DSNs. Because they store settings in the registry, system DSNs offer slightly faster performance than file DSNs, which store connection parameters in a file on your hard disk.