ADSI Edit to access SQL Connection String

The SQL connection string is stored encrypted in the Active Directory so that ADUC can connect to the database when needed. This is because ADUC tool can be installed on a system other than a DC. So ADUC retrieves this SQL connection string from Active Directory.

To view the connection string and correct if needed, follow these steps.

Launch the Windows app, ADSI Edit on a DC by typing “adsi” in the search and click on ADSI Edit to launch.

In the left pane, right click on ADSI Edit and select “Connect to”

Select “Configuration” in the dropdown for “Select a well known Naming Context and type Configuration in the Name field.

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Click OK

Then in left pane click on Configuration that was added and Expand it

Click on the folder for CN=Configuration

In the right pane, right click on CN=DesplaySpecifiers

Select properties

Scroll down to wWWHomePage

Click Edit to access the encrypted connection string

This copied from a working DC to a non-working DC where errors are arising from ADUC

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Example of an error occurring when using ADUC, that would indicate an issue connecting to SQL that might be due to an invalid connection string.