How to Setup ODBC Connection

Launch Microsoft ODBC Data Administrator

On a 64-bit Microsoft OS, there will be two versions of Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Data Source Administrator tool (Odbcad32.exe) in two different locations:

• %systemdrive%\Windows\SysWoW64 folder (32-bit)
• %systemdrive%\Windows\System32 folder (64-bit)

The Odbcad32.exe file displays the following types of data source names (DSNs):

• System DSNs (Visible to all users on the machine, including NT services)
• User DSNs (Only visible to current user and can only be used on the current machine)

In this tutorial, we’re going to create a System DSN to a SQL Server Database.

Click on Add button and select the latest SQL Server Native Client if possible, click Finish. You can download the latest SQL Server Native Client (sqlncli.msi) from Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Feature Pack link.

This will bring up a new screen to setup SQL Server data source. Type in all the pertinent information for the SQL Server and click Next.

Enter the SQL Server user id and password to access the database.

Click Next two times and Finish and you should see the entry on the System DSN tab.

Download

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Feature Pack

Further Reading

ODBC Administrator tool displays both the 32-bit and the 64-bit user DSNs in a 64-bit version of Windows