Setting up a Data Source Name (DNS) 
--------------------------------------

This section describes how to set up a data source name (DSN) to 
execute database queries via the VOSS Insights Windows 
Forwarder.

The Forwarder uses a DSN connection mechanism in order to connect to an
external database and collect information periodically. 

**Requirements for the environment**:

The following assumptions are made for the environment:

* The Forwarder is installed on the same host machine as the database.
* The target database type is MS-SQL 2XXX.
* The Host machine's operating system is Windows 64-bit.
* The Host machine is part of a windows domain.
* The domain (admin/local/system) account that is used to run the Forwarder as a 
  service has at least read-only access to the database that is supposed to be queried periodically. 


**Perform these steps to set up a DSN**:

1. Use Windows Explorer to go to the following directory: ``C:\Windows\SysWOW64``
2. Locate and then execute the following file: ``odbcad32.exe``

3. Select the **System DSN** tab. 

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image43.png

4. Click **Add**, then select **SQL Server** from the list, and click **Finish**.

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image44.png

5. On the **Create a New Data Source to SQL Server** dialog: 

   * Fill out the **Name** and **Description** fields. 
   * Select the down-arrow at the **Server** drop-down, then let the system discover 
     all the database instances available in your sub-network. Choose the appropriate 
     “database hostname\instance name” to connect to. 
   * Click **Next**.

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image45.png


6. Do not change any settings on the authentication page. Click **Next**. 

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image46.png
  
   .. note:: 

      Before proceeding, review the prerequisites for this procedure, which describe the assumptions 
      around your environment setup. 

7. If your credentials are correct, you will be able to connect to the database instance 
   and set a default database name on the next screen. Choose the appropriate 
   database name that you would like to query and click **Next**, then click **Finish**. 

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image47.png

8. Click **Test Data Source…**. 

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image48.png

9. If the test passes, you will see the following message:

   .. image:: /src/images/windows-forwarder-image49.png

10. Click **OK** to exit setup.

    The next time you try to add a “Db query” on Forwarder (see section Database Queries) 
    where you will see your DSN name listed in the *ODBC Data Source List*.