ODBC Connection Explanation - Project Server 2003

A

Andy S

It is my understanding that Project Pro 2003 uses an ODBC connect
Project Pro 2003 to Project Server 2003. However, I find it odd that
I only enter a web address in Project Pro 2003, and not some other
type of ODBC connection string. Does anyone have any links, articles,
or personal explanation as to how this works? I've never seen an ODBC
connection established by a web address.

Thank you!
 
J

J Burford Fields

It is my understanding that Project Pro 2003 uses an ODBC connect
Project Pro 2003 to Project Server 2003. However, I find it odd that
I only enter a web address in Project Pro 2003, and not some other
type of ODBC connection string. Does anyone have any links, articles,
or personal explanation as to how this works? I've never seen an ODBC
connection established by a web address.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure your information is incorrect concerning ODBC. From
what I've read, all interfaces to project server, including Project
Professional, connect via the web server using HTML. The web server
runs a project server application that makes connections to SQL
server. There are some very standard tools for IIS to SQL server
connectivity that perform better than ODBC (even on rainy days) and I
would be surprised if ODBC were still in the picture. I'm not a
developer, and Project's performance is often not what I would like it
to be, so I could easily be wrong.
 
J

James Fraser

I'm pretty sure your information is incorrect concerning ODBC. From
what I've read, all interfaces to project server, including Project
Professional, connect via the web server using HTML. The web server
runs a project server application that makes connections to SQL
server. There are some very standard tools for IIS to SQL server
connectivity that perform better than ODBC (even on rainy days) and I
would be surprised if ODBC were still in the picture. I'm not a
developer, and Project's performance is often not what I would like it
to be, so I could easily be wrong.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid the Original Poster is correct for Project Pro 2003 (but
not 2007) ODBC calls are used extensively by Project Professional
2003.

A few references:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...003+server+port&rnum=1&hl=en#82dd4f3e203f07b5
or:
"The new Project Server 2007 architecture introduces significant
improvement in performance when using Project Professional in a high
latency environment. The performance improvement is mainly due to the
fact the data access layer was rewritten to use web services to access
the database instead of ODBC connections (EPM 2003). "
from:
http://blogs.msdn.com/chrisfie/arch...-of-latency-on-project-professional-2007.aspx
or
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa193443(office.11).aspx

Project Pro calls the "PDS" using http to the Project Server. The
Project Server initiates a session on the SQL server and then hands
back the connection details to the client. The client then takes over
that connection.

Project Pro 2003 can not work without the SQL ports open between it
and the SQL server: (1433 and 1432, if I recall correctly.)

This is changed in Project 2007.


James Fraser
 
J

J Burford Fields

I'm afraid the Original Poster is correct for Project Pro 2003 (but
not 2007) ODBC calls are used extensively by Project Professional
2003.

A few references:http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.project.pro_and_serve...
or:
"The new Project Server 2007 architecture introduces significant
improvement in performance when using Project Professional in a high
latency environment. The performance improvement is mainly due to the
fact the data access layer was rewritten to use web services to access
the database instead of ODBC connections (EPM 2003). "
from:http://blogs.msdn.com/chrisfie/archive/2007/06/20/impact-of-latency-o...
orhttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa193443(office.11).aspx

Project Pro calls the "PDS" using http to the Project Server. The
Project Server initiates a session on the SQL server and then hands
back the connection details to the client. The client then takes over
that connection.

Project Pro 2003 can not work without the SQL ports open between it
and the SQL server: (1433 and 1432, if I recall correctly.)

This is changed in Project 2007.

James Fraser- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Indeed. Thanks for the correction. My reference was Microsoft's 2732
course curriculum and it is misleading, to say the least.
 
J

J Burford Fields

JB:

That old thing?

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
ForProjectServer Consulting:http://www.msprojectexperts.com
ForProjectServer FAQS:http://www.projectserverexperts.com






- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Yes.

You caught me drinking the kool-aide, I think.

Unfortunately it is still the only official Microsoft curriculum and a
good example of Microsoft's lack of commitment to the quality of
training. They can outsource a thousand testing and certification
programs that burden the training partner community, but the one thing
they have the most control over, quality of curriculum; well, it
seems they live in a constant state of denial concerning that
responsibility and underfund their training department requiring it to
be a self-funded profit center, even. Microsoft: increasingly all
about money and less about the passions of IT and its contribution to
civilization.
 
G

Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]

JB:

That's why there are alternatives like our learning system which is a much
more complete offering. Think of it this way, if Microsoft did everything
right, there wouldn't be as much opportunity for technologists like
ourselves to remain employed.<g>

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
For Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
For Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com
 
J

J Burford Fields

JB:

That's why there are alternatives like our learning system which is a much
more complete offering. Think of it this way, if Microsoft did everything
right, there wouldn't be as much opportunity for technologists like
ourselves to remain employed.<g>

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
For Project Server Consulting:http://www.msprojectexperts.com
For Project Server FAQS:http://www.projectserverexperts.com






- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

There is that. Kind of undermined my independent MCT business though,
or at least increased the cost if the curriculum to which my $400
annual fee entitled me is not up to the task and I have to bear the
cost of finding yet another partner for the expected information. If
that source/partner is a competitor in the training market then
Microsoft really has kind of ripped me off.

Frankly, my impression is that whoever developed the MOC did so in
such a way as to leave a tremendous after-market that was beyond the
reach of ordinary Microsoft trainers.

It's business. Don't blame me for taking a more kindly look at
Primavera offerings for my clients, and for my own career, going
forward. It's not personal, it's business.
 
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