Difference between Integrated Security = True or SSPI

Guys,

I am pretty sure that when we work with connection strings we would have come across this multiple times. 

"Persist Security Info=False;Integrated Security=true;Initial Catalog=Northwind;server=(local)"

Below is an explanation:

Integrated Security -or- Trusted_Connection (Default value = 'false')

1. When false, User ID and Password are specified in the connection.

2. When true, the current Windows account credentials are used for authentication.

3. Recognized values are true, false, yes, no, and sspi (strongly recommended), which is equivalent to true.

4. If User ID and Password are specified and Integrated Security is set to true, the User ID and Password will be ignored and Integrated Security will be used.

Exception - With an OLE DB (non SQL) connection:

1. Integrated Security is not equivalent to Trusted_Security.

2. TRUE and YES are not the same as SSPI.

To use Windows authentication with OLE DB, one must use "Integrated Security=SSPI". 
Using TRUE or YES for this value does not work. 
Using Trusted_Connection with any value does not work.

Difference between ODBC and OLE DB data sources

In this post I want to explain the difference between ODBC and OLE DB.This is what I found based on my reading on the web and my understanding.

1) ODBC provides access only to relational databases

2) OLE DB provides the following features:

a) Access to data regardless of its format or location

b) Full access to ODBC data sources and ODBC drivers

In simple words, ODBC is used only for SQL based data sources whereas OLE DB is used for both SQL and non SQL data sources.I have put in a diagram also below. That might explain it better.

Connection strings for Analysis Services (SSAS) or OLAP

When you work with SharePoint and you want to establish connection with Analysis Services (SSAS) or Cubes you would need to generate connection strings to connect to the Data Source. Some sample connection strings are below: 

Standard

Data Source=myServerAddress;Catalog=myDataBase;

Encrypted Connection

This one authenticates the user and encrypts the communication. This is the highest level of security.

Data Source=myServerAddress;Catalog=myDataBase;ProtectionLevel=PktPrivacy;

Signed Connection

This one authenticates the user and prevents the content in the communication to be modified.

Data Source=myServerAddress;Catalog=myDataBase;ProtectionLevel=PktIntegrity;

Authenticated Connection

This one authenticates the user but does not secure the communication.

Data Source=myServerAddress;Catalog=myDataBase;ProtectionLevel=Connect;

Reference

Hiding SharePoint Search Center Title and Description

1. Browse to the Page -> Edit Page -> Add Web Part -> Media and Content -> Content Editor -> Click here to add content -> On the ribbon -> HTML -> Edit HTML Source

2. Paste the below code :

<style>

.s4-mini-header {

            VISIBILITY: hidden

}</style><style>

.s4-mini-titlesep {

            VISIBILITY: hidden

}</style>

3. Content Editor Web Part ->Edit Web Part properties -> Appearance -> Chrome Type -> None

4. Page -> Publish 

Downloading/Extracting WSP (Solution) from SharePoint

Background

Last week I was working on a SharePoint project where I had to get all the wsp’s deployed in the farm and I was not able to find few .wsp files anywhere in the Central Administration server. In the Central Administration Solution Properties screen, there is an option to Retract the solution but no option to Download the solution

Solution

I am not sure if there is a way to do this using stsadm. But definitely we can do this using SharePoint PowerShell.To run this command, you need to be a member of the Farm Administrators group and have permission to the configuration database

$farm = Get-SPFarm

$file = $farm.Solutions.Item("deployedsolutionname.wsp").SolutionFile

$file.SaveAs("c:\temp\deployedsolutionname.wsp")

Hiding Title Column in a SharePoint list

1. Navigate to the SharePoint list page that contains the Title data you want to hide.

2. Go to the Settings menu at the top of the page and select List Settings.

3. Click on the link labeled Advanced Settings.

4. Select the Yes radio button next to Allow the Management of Content Types. Then click OK.

5. Click on Item from the Content Types section of the page.

6. Click on the item labeled Title.

7. Scroll down to the Column Settings section and choose the Hidden radio button.

8. Click OK to save the settings.

SharePoint Compatibility with Internet Explorer

SharePoint 2010 and IE

Browser	Supported	Supported with limitations	Not supported
Internet Explorer 11	32-bit	64-bit
Internet Explorer 10	32-bit	64-bit
Internet Explorer 9	32-bit	64-bit
Internet Explorer 8	32-bit	64-bit

SharePoint 2013 and IE

Browser	Supported	Not supported
Internet Explorer 11	X
Internet Explorer 10	X
Internet Explorer 9	X
Internet Explorer 8	X

Reference :

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263526(v=office.14).aspx 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263526(v=office.15).aspx

Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {BDEADEE2-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F} failed due to the following error: 800703fa.

Issue Description

I was getting the above error while browsing to Central Administration

Server Error in ‘/’ Application.

Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID (BDEADEE2- C265- .11 DO- SCED- OOAOC9OAB5OFJ failed due to the following error: 800703 fa.

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where ¡t originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.Runtime.lnteropservices.COMException: Retrieving the COM class factory for component wh CLSID (ODEADEE2-C265-1 I DO-BCED-OOAOC9OAOSOF)failed due to the following error: 800703fa.

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Inforniation regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace:

[COMException (0x800703fa): Retrieving the C0M class factory for component with CLSID {BDEADEE2-C265-llDO-BCED-OOAOC9OABSOF} failed due to the following error: 800703f a.]

Microsoft.SharePoint.Library.SPRequest. .ctorO tiO4

Microsoft.SharePoint.SPGlobal.CreatesPRequestAndSetldentity(Boolean bNotGlobalAdminCode, String strUrl , Sedean bNotAddToContext, Byte[] UserToken, String userName, Soolean blgnoreTokenTimeout, Soolean bAsAnonyntus) ÷238

Microsoft.SharePoint.SPWeb.InitializeSPRequest() .455

Microsoft. SharePoi nt. SPWeb. EnsureSPRequestQ ÷75

Microsoft. SharePoi nt. SPWeb. get_Request() ÷74

Microsoft.SharePoint.WebControls.SPControl .SPwebEnsureSPControl(HttpContext context) +613

Microsoft.Sharepoint.WebControls.SPControl .c5etContextweb(HttpContext context) .41

Microsoft.SharePoint.ApplicationRuntime.SPRequestModule.PostResolveRequestCacheHandler(Object osender, EventArgs ea) ÷595

System.Web.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +80

System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) ÷171

Version Informdtion: Microsoft NET Framework Version:2.O.50727.4234; ASP.NET Yersion:2.U.5U727.4223

Resolution

Perform an IISRESET on all the web servers in the farm.

Outlook 2013 displays "NEED PASSWORD" in the Outlook status bar below.

Symptoms

Outlook did not have the newer emails and was displaying “Disconnected from Exchange”.

Outlook 2013 displays "NEED PASSWORD" in the Outlook status bar below.

What did not work

1) Tried clicking on the Need password - Did not respond

2) In the Send Receive tag, tried clicking on Enter Your Password- Did not respond

3) Closed and opened Outlook - It was showing the same message on the status bar

What worked

Rebooted the machine - That helped

WEIRD!!!

SharePoint 2013 Pre-requisites

The preparation tool installs the following prerequisites:

1. Web Server (IIS) role

2. Application Server role

3. Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.5

4. SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 Native Client

5. Microsoft WCF Data Services 5.0

6. Microsoft Information Protection and Control Client (MSIPC)

7. Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime v1.0 SP1 (x64)

8. Windows Management Framework 3.0 which includes Windows PowerShell 3.0

9. Windows Identity Foundation (WIF) 1.0 and Microsoft Identity Extensions (previously named WIF 1.1)

10. Windows Server AppFabric

11. Cumulative Update Package 1 for Microsoft AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server (KB 2671763)

Reference