Wednesday, 8 November 2017

How to change default database server instance for SharePoint

Today we will see how to change the Database server instance name in SharePoint to get created Content DB by default in specified SQL instance.
In our case, we had one instance set default to get Create content under the same which is decommissioned recently but still, we are getting the old instance name under the Content DB page when we are trying to create the new CD.
Below are the steps to follow the same:
  • Open Central admin and click on Application Management option available left side of the screen.
  • Now select Specify the default database server under Database option, see below:

  • Here we will get an option to change the Content Database server name, we need to specify where to create content DB by default. Enter the SQL instance name where you want to create CD and click on ok, if you are using SQL server authentication, select account name and Password.

  • Once done, you may face an issue that database server instance is still showing as old, if yes please do IIS reset to take reflect on the same.

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

SharePoint Visio-Bug: The server failed to process the request

A Developer reported that they are not able to open Visio file in SharePoint site level, they are getting error like “The server failed to process the request”.
Here are the steps that we need to follow to fix this issue:
This solution will work SharePoint 2010,2013 and 2016 as well.
  • Login to the server and verify the Visio service Application is created.
  • To check the same, go to CA>Click on Mange Service Applications
  • Now navigate the page down and verify Visio Graphics Service Application is created and started
  • Also check from Central Administration>System Settings>Mange services on server and checked if the Visio Services were running:


  • Now, we will open SharePoint Management Shell with Admin rights and execute below given command.

Get-SPServiceApplication -DisplayName "{Visio Graphics Service Application}"


  • Now execute below command to find the Service account used for Visio service Application.

Get-SPServiceApplicationPool -Name "Visio Graphics Service Application"

  • Now we have Service name and service account name, now we need to get Content Db name for Site and assign the SPdataAccess
  • To get site collection Content DB there is two ways to get the same result, one is from PowerShell command and other one using GUI mode, Executing the command will be easiest way to get Content DB name and SQL server instance name.

Get-SPContentDatabase -site http://contoso.com/sites/test
Result would be like below screen shot:
  • Now login to the SQL server with above server instance name and verify the above given service account is added under SQL security group or not, if it’s not added; add this user
  • Right click on Added user and click on User Mapping option, there will be many db name available identify the Content DB which you got from site collection URL.  
  • Now select that db and assign SPDataAccess permission to the same and click on ok.


  • Now go back to the site and open the Visio File and you will get the vision opened on the Page.