Login with SA acct failed

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Login with SA acct failed

SQLisAwe5oMe

SSChampion

Points: 14052
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January 7, 2013 at 5:46 pm

#287253

Hi All,
Here is a scenario that I am going through and need your opinion on this.
One of the app guy is asking to login to their server with SA acct since the vendor is there to install an application.
We only built the server for them, we do not have access to the server....however, we created the SA acct(SQL Authentication) during the instllation.
Since I didn't have access to the server, I could not RDP to it....so, the guy shared the screen with me and gave me control and I tried to login with SA acct, however failed. This is SQL 2008, default instance. The error was related to some Shared memory, shared memory was enabled at the config mgr, don't remember the whole error now. I have a feeling that I am missing something here.
Anyway, I just want to touch base with you guy and see if I am doing this correctly. Did anyone went through similar situation? Is there any other way you can login with SA acct? Please advise.
Thanks,
SueTons.
Regards,
SQLisAwe5oMe.

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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Superdoc SSCommitted Points: 1654 More actions · Answer 1

It would have been best if you posted the entire error message but by speculating what could be happening is that your SA account is usually in denied mode since the time of the installation has finished, you need to login as a local administrator who has access to the SQL Server instance with sysdba ..> this would have been done during installation.

Also check on the server properties if mixed authentication is allowed, you would never be able to login if this is not enabled.

Regards,

MyDoggieJessie SSC-Forever Points: 44486 More actions · Answer 2

By default when installing SQL Server the built in administrators group is added into the sysadmin role, so as long as you/they can connect to the SQL Server instance with an account that's a local administrator on that machine, you should be able to troubleshoot appropriately i.e. (reset the sa password, etc)

As Superdoc mentioned, it would help if you could post the actual error (you can find this in the log file/sql error log file that's by default located in the directory...which is usually something like \MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\)

______________________________________________________________________________Never argue with an idiot; Theyll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience

Orlando Colamatteo SSC Guru Points: 182279 More actions · Answer 3

MyDoggieJessie (1/7/2013)
By default when installing SQL Server the built in administrators group is added into the sysadmin role, so as long as you/they can connect to the SQL Server instance with an account that's a local administrator on that machine, you should be able to troubleshoot appropriately i.e. (reset the sa password, etc)

That used to be the case but is not done by default in SQL 2008 installers and above.

There are no special teachers of virtue, because virtue is taught by the whole community.
--Plato

SQLisAwe5oMe SSChampion Points: 14052 More actions · Answer 4

Hi All,

I just want to update you guys with the results.

I could not RDP directly to the server due to firewall issue.

So, there was a jump server(terminal server)....which I need to RDP to it first, then from there I RDP to the target server.....since my login has SA privilage, I was able to change the passwor for SA acct.

Anyway, thanks for all of your inputs.

SueTons.

Regards,
SQLisAwe5oMe.