Creating the configuration database

Most of the Meridian Enterprise Server configuration data is stored in a configuration database. This database can be hosted by the same database server that is used to host the other Meridian Enterprise Server data. This database is not created automatically during Meridian Enterprise Server installation. You must provide the configuration database connection parameters as a separate task described in this topic.

Before you begin

You will need the following information to complete this task:

The credentials of a domain account under which to run the Meridian Enterprise Server service.
The credentials of a domain account for the application pool under which the Meridian Enterprise Server web application will run.
The name of the server where Meridian Enterprise Server is installed and the number of the TCP port that it is listening to (if on a different server than the Meridian Enterprise Server web application).
For SQL Server, the connection parameters for a new or existing database. If you would prefer to create the database with a script instead, see SQL Server database creation script.
For Oracle, the user name for a new or existing database. If you would prefer to create the database with a script instead, see Oracle database creation script.
An existing database (SQL Server) or user (Oracle schema) can be used but we recommend that you can create a new database or user dedicated to the Meridian Enterprise Server configuration database and separate from any Meridian Explorer repositories.

Database connection parameters
Parameter	Description
Provider	SQL Server or Oracle
Server (SQL Server) or SID (Oracle)	The name of the database server and/or instance where you want to create the configuration database. The names you must specify depend on the type of database server and the client configuration. For example: MyServer – SQL Server Standard or Enterprise MyServer\MyInstance – SQL Server Express or another edition that created a named instance when the software was installed. MyInstance – Oracle network alias for the database. This list includes the alias names found in all tnsnames.* files on the computer unless you have set in the Oracle client configuration the location of a specific tnsnames.ora file to be used.
Type (SQL Server only)	The authentication method to use to connect to the configuration database.
User name	The name of the user to connect to the configuration database. Note The account name should follow the Oracle rules described in Schema Object Names and Qualifiers.
Password	The password of the user to connect to the configuration database.
Database (SQL Server only)	To use an existing database: Click EDIT. The SELECT DATABASE dialog box appears. In the menu, click EXISTING DATABASE. The list of existing databases appears. Select a database and click OK. The name appears in the Database field. To create a new database: Click EDIT. The SELECT DATABASE dialog box appears. In the menu, click NEW DATABASE. The database creation options appear. Type a name for the database and then click OK. The name appears in the Database field.
Primary path (SQL Server only)	Type the path on the database server where to store the configuration data.
Log path (SQL Server only)	Type the path on the database server where to store the configuration database logs.

Database connection parameters

Parameter

Description

Provider

SQL Server or Oracle

Server (SQL Server) or SID (Oracle)

The name of the database server and/or instance where you want to create the configuration database. The names you must specify depend on the type of database server and the client configuration.

For example:

MyServer – SQL Server Standard or Enterprise

MyServer\MyInstance – SQL Server Express or another edition that created a named instance when the software was installed.

MyInstance – Oracle network alias for the database. This list includes the alias names found in all tnsnames.* files on the computer unless you have set in the Oracle client configuration the location of a specific tnsnames.ora file to be used.

Type (SQL Server only)

The authentication method to use to connect to the configuration database.

User name

The name of the user to connect to the configuration database.

Note The account name should follow the Oracle rules described in Schema Object Names and Qualifiers.

Password

The password of the user to connect to the configuration database.

Database (SQL Server only)

To use an existing database:

Click EDIT. The SELECT DATABASE dialog box appears.
In the menu, click EXISTING DATABASE. The list of existing databases appears.
Select a database and click OK. The name appears in the Database field.

To create a new database:

Click EDIT. The SELECT DATABASE dialog box appears.
In the menu, click NEW DATABASE. The database creation options appear.
Type a name for the database and then click OK. The name appears in the Database field.

Primary path (SQL Server only)

Type the path on the database server where to store the configuration data.

Log path (SQL Server only)

Type the path on the database server where to store the configuration database logs.