11.1 CreateWindowsNT/2000Users
Although it might seem odd to begin a discussion of SQL Server security by describing
the process of adding users to Windows NT/2000, it's important to note that SQL Server
security is tightly integrated with the Windows security registry. SQL Server
administrators are pleased with the fact that SQL Server automatically recognizes
Windows NT and Windows 2000 users, saving a considerable amount of administrative
time.
This section explains the process of adding new users to Windows 2000. The next section
describes how to add functional groups to Windows. Although these sections deal with
Windows 2000, the process is nearly identical for Windows NT.
Windows must recognize users before they can log in to the network and use the
computer's resources. You need to add a number of users to the Windows user registry.
How do you make sure that all users are required to provide a network password before
they can access the network?
Technique
Windows users cannot be added to the system from within SQL Server's Enterprise
Manager. You'll have to use the Windows Control Panel applets to add new users and
groups.
Note
The settings you choose on this page of the Add New User dialog box do
not affect the SQL Server settings you establish for the user. The settings
you see in Figure 11.4 relate only to Windows and not SQL Server or the
database data.
Figure 11.4. Most of your users will be set up as Standard Users with
no special capabilities.
Note
The first step in the following example is different on Windows NT 4.0
and Windows 2000. For Windows NT 4.0, you go to Start, Programs,
Administrative Tools, User Manager. For Windows 2000, you go to
Start, Settings, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer
Management; then you right-click on Users.
Also, you must have administrative rights on the computer to add users to
it.
Steps
SQL Server security is tightly integrated with WindowsNT/2000 security. SQL Server
recognizes the users and groups that are added to a Windows NT or Windows 2000
domain. The first step toward security for SQL Server, of course, is to add users to the
computer system. This section describes how to add individual users to a Windows NT or
Windows 2000 computer.
SQL Server consults the registered users on the computer when you create logins,
discussed in How-To 11.5. The user's name and description are accessible from the SQL
Server security dialog boxes and help you recognize each user as you create SQL Server
logins and establish security profiles.
1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel and open the Users and Passwords Control
Panel applet.
2. Make sure the check box labeled Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to
Use This Computer is checked, as shown in Figure 11.1.
Figure 11.1. This dialog box allows you to add new Windowsusers and
manage their group membership.
3. Click the Add button to open the Add New User dialog box.
4. Fill in the username, the full name of the user, and a description for the new user,
as shown in Figure 11.2.
Figure 11.2. The information you enter in the Add New User dialog box will
be accessible from the SQL Server security dialog boxes.
5. After you have provided the required user information, click the Next button to
move to the second page of the dialog box.
6. Enter the new user's initial password into the password text box. Then type the
password a second time in the Confirm Password text box (see Figure 11.3). When
you're ready, click the Next button.
Figure 11.3. Specify the user's initial password in this dialog box. The user
will be able to change it later, if necessary.
7. On the third page of the Add New User dialog box (see Figure 11.4), you specify
the type of Windows access you want to provide this user. Although this
information is not directly related to SQL Server, most often you will want to
leave this setting at its default to Standard User.
In most cases, you do not want to provide a user with more access than necessary.
Note
The settings you choose on this page of the Add New User dialog
box do not affect the SQL Server settings you establish for the
user. The settings you see in Figure 11.4 relate only to Windows
and not SQL Server or the database data.
8. When all settings are complete, click the Finish button to add the new user to the
collection of users on your computer.
Comments
SQL Server's integration with Windows security is one of the major reasons that SQL
Server has grown in popularity. Its ability to cooperate with Windows when
authenticating users and providing database services dramatically reduces the
administrative burden that is normally associated with server database engines.
Caution
Be sure to remove your temporary users after you are finished with them
so that you do leave them hanging around.
. 11.1 Create Windows NT/2000 Users
Although it might seem odd to begin a discussion of SQL Server security by describing
the process of adding users to Windows. recognizes
Windows NT and Windows 2000 users, saving a considerable amount of administrative
time.
This section explains the process of adding new users to Windows