Troubleshooting Error 0x80004005: DSN Creation with Group Policy Preferences on Windows Server

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Configuring Data Source Names (DSNs) is a common task for administrators, enabling applications to connect to databases without requiring users to manually configure connection details. Group Policy Preferences (GPP) offers a powerful mechanism to centrally manage these DSN configurations across multiple computers in an organizational network. This centralized approach simplifies deployment and ensures consistency, significantly reducing administrative overhead. However, like any complex system, applying DSN settings via GPP can occasionally encounter issues, leading to unexpected errors during the policy application process.

One specific error that administrators might encounter when leveraging GPP for DSN configuration is error code 0x80004005. This error, often described as an “unspecified error,” can be frustrating due to its generic nature. Understanding the root cause and the proper troubleshooting steps is essential for resolving this issue efficiently. This article delves into the symptoms of this error, explains its specific cause in the context of SQL Server DSNs configured via GPP, and provides the recommended resolution to ensure successful DSN deployment.

Symptoms of Error 0x80004005 During DSN Configuration¶

When attempting to deploy or update DSN configurations using Group Policy Preferences, the process might fail on target computers. This failure is typically logged in the Windows Event Log, providing crucial clues about the issue. Administrators should monitor the Application log on client machines or servers where the policy is applied to identify specific error events related to Group Policy processing.

A characteristic symptom of this particular issue is an Event ID 4098 originating from the “Group Policy DataSources” source. The description accompanying this event will indicate that a specific preference item (referencing the name of the DSN preference configured in the Group Policy Object, or GPO) failed to apply. The description explicitly mentions the error code 0x80004005. While the event description itself might not provide granular detail (“unspecified error”), it confirms that a DSN GPP item failed with this specific code.

Event ID: 4098
Source: Group Policy DataSources
Description: The computer <Preference Name> preference item in the <GPO Name>. Group Policy object did not apply because it failed with error code 0x80004005 unspecified error. This error was suppressed.

To gain deeper insight into the failure, administrators can enable detailed debug logging for Group Policy Preferences. This logging provides a step-by-step trace of the GPP processing, including specific API calls and their return codes. When debug logging is enabled and this error occurs, the trace logs will contain more specific error messages related to the DSN creation process. These logs might show lines indicating issues with processing keyword-value pairs or the DSN creation function itself, often accompanied by the hr = 0x80004005 code.

<DateTime> [pid=0x70,tid=0x91c] Invalid keyword-value pairs [ hr = 0x80004005 "Unspecified error" ]
<DateTime> [pid=0x70,tid=0x91c] createDsn [ hr = 0x80004005 "Unspecified error" ]
<DateTime> [pid=0x70,tid=0x91c] Properties handled. [ hr = 0x80004005 "Unspecified error" ]

These log entries strongly suggest that the issue lies within the parameters provided for configuring the DSN. The “Invalid keyword-value pairs” message is a significant indicator that the DSN configuration contains parameters that the underlying ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) driver does not recognize or accept for the specified connection type.

Enabling GPP Debug Logging¶

Enabling GPP debug logging is a crucial step in diagnosing issues like the 0x80004005 error. This logging level is configured through Group Policy itself, ensuring that logging is enabled on the target computers where the policy is failing. The exact location of the policy setting depends on the Windows Server or client operating system version.

For Windows Server 2008, navigate the Group Policy Management Editor to:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Group Policy\Logging and Tracing\Data Source Policy processing

For Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, and later versions, the path is slightly different:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Group Policy\Logging and Tracing\Configure Data Sources preference logging and tracing

Within this policy setting, configure both event logging and tracing. For Event Logging, select Informational, Warnings, and Errors to capture all relevant events in the system log. For Tracing, set the option to On. You can also specify a custom location and name for the trace log file, though default locations are provided.

The default locations for the GPP trace log files vary by operating system:

Operating System Versions	Default Log File Location
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP	%SystemDrive%\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application Data\\GroupPolicy\\Preference\\Trace\\Computer.log
Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, and later	%SystemDrive%\\ProgramData\\GroupPolicy\\Preference\\Trace\\Computer.log

Note that %SystemDrive%\\ProgramData and %SystemDrive%\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application Data are typically hidden folders. You may need to enable viewing hidden items in File Explorer to access them. Analyzing these logs, especially the lines containing hr = 0x80004005, helps pinpoint the exact step in the DSN creation process that failed.

Cause of the 0x80004005 Error¶

The specific cause of the 0x80004005 error when configuring a DSN for SQL Server using Group Policy Preferences lies in the inclusion of unsupported connection string parameters. When setting up a DSN, you define various attributes that the ODBC driver uses to establish a connection to the database. These attributes are provided as keyword-value pairs. Different database drivers, such as those for SQL Server, Oracle, or Microsoft Access, support different sets of keywords.

For SQL Server DSNs managed through GPP, the error 0x80004005 occurs if you attempt to configure Username (or UID) and Password (or PWD) keywords directly within the DSN preference item. While these might seem like logical parameters for database authentication, they are not valid or recognized keywords for authentication when configuring a SQL Server DSN via the standard ODBC mechanisms GPP utilizes, particularly when Windows Authentication is intended or the driver expects other authentication parameters.

SQL Server ODBC drivers are designed to primarily support two main authentication methods: SQL Server Authentication (requiring a username and password) and Windows Authentication (using the logged-in Windows user’s credentials). When configuring a DSN manually or within certain application connection strings, you specify which method to use and provide the corresponding credentials if required. However, the GPP interface for configuring DSNs expects parameters valid for the DSN itself, not necessarily the runtime authentication details for SQL Server Authentication.

The key issue is that the GPP Data Sources preference item maps its configuration fields to standard ODBC connection string attributes. The SQL Server ODBC driver, when processing a DSN connection string, does not accept UID and PWD keywords for authenticating the DSN creation itself or storing them in the DSN for SQL Server Authentication in the way GPP provides them. Instead, it expects parameters related to the server name, database name, and crucially, how authentication should be handled (e.g., via Trusted_Connection). Attempting to force Username and Password into the configuration for a SQL Server DSN via GPP leads the ODBC driver to encounter “Invalid keyword-value pairs,” resulting in the 0x80004005 error.

Understanding the valid connection string attributes for the specific ODBC driver you are using is critical. Microsoft provides documentation detailing the accepted keyword-value pairs for its SQL Server ODBC drivers. Including keywords outside of this accepted set, or using them incorrectly for the intended authentication method, will lead to errors during DSN creation or connection attempts. In the context of GPP applying a SQL Server DSN, explicitly defining Username and Password is the common culprit for the 0x80004005 error.

Resolution for Error 0x80004005¶

Resolving the 0x80004005 error when configuring SQL Server DSNs with GPP is straightforward once the cause is understood. The error occurs because you are providing invalid keyword-value pairs (specifically, Username and Password) for a SQL Server DSN configuration using this method.

To fix this, you must remove the Username and Password fields from the DSN configuration within the Group Policy Preferences item. These fields should be left blank or unconfigured in the GPP editor.

When configuring a SQL Server connection via a DSN, the recommended and most secure method for seamless user experience in a Windows domain environment is to use Windows Authentication. This method relies on the security context of the user or computer establishing the connection, eliminating the need to store credentials in the DSN itself or prompt the user.

To configure a DSN for SQL Server using Windows Authentication via GPP, you must include the attribute Trusted_Connection=Yes in the DSN configuration details within the GPP item. This specific keyword tells the SQL Server ODBC driver to use the currently logged-in Windows user’s security token to authenticate with the SQL Server instance. This works seamlessly with Active Directory integration and is the standard practice for enterprise applications in a domain.

Therefore, the corrective action is to edit the problematic DSN preference item in your GPO. Ensure that the Username and Password fields are empty. Then, verify that the necessary attributes for connecting to your SQL Server instance are correctly configured, including the Server name/IP, Database name, and importantly, that the Trusted_Connection attribute is set to Yes.

For example, in the GPP Data Sources preference item, you would configure fields such as:
* Name: (Your DSN Name)
* Driver: SQL Server (or the specific SQL Server ODBC driver version installed)
* Server: (Your SQL Server Name or IP)
* Database: (Your Database Name)
* Trusted Connection: Yes

By leaving the username and password fields blank and specifying Trusted_Connection=Yes, you provide the SQL Server ODBC driver with the correct and valid parameters for establishing a connection using Windows Authentication. When Group Policy applies this configuration, the DSN is created successfully without encountering the “Invalid keyword-value pairs” error (0x80004005), and applications using this DSN will connect to SQL Server using the user’s Windows credentials.

It is crucial to consult the documentation for the specific ODBC driver you are using to understand all supported connection string attributes. While Trusted_Connection=Yes is standard for Windows Authentication with SQL Server drivers, other drivers or connection methods might require different parameters. However, for the common scenario causing the 0x80004005 error with SQL Server DSNs in GPP, the issue is almost always the incorrect inclusion of username and password fields.

In summary, to resolve error 0x80004005 during DSN creation with GPP for SQL Server:
1. Edit the relevant DSN Group Policy Preference item.
2. Clear any values from the Username and Password fields.
3. Ensure that necessary connection details like Server and Database are correct.
4. Confirm that the Trusted_Connection attribute is set to Yes (if using Windows Authentication, which is recommended).
5. Apply the updated Group Policy and force a policy update on the target machines (gpupdate /force).

This approach aligns with the standard and secure methods for connecting to SQL Server databases in a domain environment and correctly uses the parameters supported by the SQL Server ODBC driver when configured via DSNs.

Best Practices and Further Considerations¶

When deploying DSNs via Group Policy Preferences, consider these best practices to avoid common pitfalls and ensure smooth operation:

• Use System DSNs for Applications: System DSNs are recommended for applications used by multiple users on a computer, as they are stored in the registry hive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and are accessible system-wide. User DSNs are stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER and are only available to the user who created them. GPP is typically used to deploy System DSNs for standard applications.
• Verify ODBC Driver Installation: Ensure that the necessary ODBC driver for your database is installed on the target computers before the GPP attempts to create the DSN. The DSN creation will fail if the specified driver is not present.
• Test Manually First: Before deploying via GPP, manually create the DSN on a test machine to ensure that the connection details (server name, database name, authentication method) are correct and that a connection can be successfully established. This helps isolate issues not related to GPP itself.
• Scope Policies Correctly: Target the GPO containing the DSN preference item to the correct Organizational Unit (OU) containing the computers that require the DSN. Use filtering (WMI or Security Filtering) if necessary to refine the scope.
• Understand Authentication Methods: Be clear on whether you are using Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication. As demonstrated, DSN configuration via GPP for SQL Server primarily supports Windows Authentication through Trusted_Connection=Yes. If SQL Server Authentication is strictly required, the application using the DSN would typically need to provide the username and password at runtime, rather than storing them insecurely in the DSN configuration managed by GPP.
• Utilize GPP Reporting: Use Group Policy Results and Group Policy Modeling tools in the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to verify that the GPO is being applied to the target computers and that the DSN preference item is being processed. This can help identify if the issue is with GPP application itself or the specific preference item configuration.

By following these practices and understanding the nuances of configuring DSNs, particularly for SQL Server, within the GPP framework, administrators can effectively manage database connections across their network and avoid errors like 0x80004005. Troubleshooting often begins with checking the basic configuration details, verifying driver availability, and leveraging the detailed logging capabilities of Group Policy Preferences.

Have you encountered this specific error or similar issues when configuring DSNs with Group Policy Preferences? Share your experiences or troubleshooting tips in the comments below!