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All Forums  SQL Server 2005 Forums  SQL Server Administration (2005)  network authentication issue

Author  Topic  besonen Starting Member 1 Post Posted - 2009-07-15 : 02:31:30 i'm running the Express version of SQL 2005 and am experiencing a network authentication issue. based on this webpage: http://www.microsoft.com/Sqlserver/2005/en/us/Compare-Features.aspx?pf=true and my conversations with others i'm under the impression that there is no difference in the authentication capabilities of Express or any other version of SQL 2005 (thus i'm posting here rather than in the less frequented 'Express Edition' sub-forum). the Express version that i'm using was included with a piece of software called Portfoliocenter. the simple lan in this scenario contains six workstations (win2k & winxp) that are all used without workgroup passwords. Portfoliocenter was originally installed in what is referred to as "standalone" mode (where all Portfoliocenter activity occurs on the same computer on which SQL 2005 Express is also installed). in order to access Portfoliocenter from one of the other lan computers Portfoliocenter needs to be switched to a "server" mode. when Portfoliocenter is switched to "server" mode access from a lan client is not possible. after speaking at length with Portfoliocenter technical support i was told that lan access would only be possible by assigning a workstation password to each user. supposedly MS SQL 2005 can only authenticate users in a workgroup that have workstation passwords assigned. i was also told that if i wanted to disable SQL 2005 authentication i would need to change the "Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts" setting from classic authentication to allowing guest users. and then enable the guest user account on the SQL 2005 Express/Portfoliocenter machine. this will supposedly disable SQL user authentication. i will try the above tomorrow morning. in the meantime, can someone tell me if what i'm describing sounds even remotely accurate (not the Portfoliocenter stuff, just the SQL stuff)? thanks, david