Unable to connect to configuration database

The main reason behind this exception is due the SharePoint server  inability to contact server. This may be due to

• SQL server/Cluster is down,
• Network is down.
• SPN not configured properly

If all above are correct and SQL server box up and reachable using ping command from SharePoint servers, the go to command prompt and type the following command

C:\> IPCONFIG /flushdns

Type Services.msc in Start Menu--> Run and hit enter to open services mmc console.

Restart services named netlogon, dhcp client, and dns client.


Also if your server are VM boxes, then make sure system time in all servers are in sync with the server hosting active directory.

PowerPIvot for Sharepoint 2010 Installation/ Setup SharePoint 2010 Development box

Was never able to install this until Microsoft released Sharepoint 2010 service pack1.
All my previous SQL server installation used to fail because of the calls to integration dll.

Dev environment details-: This is single server farm installation
Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise, SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise, Visual studio 2010 ultimate and MS office 2010 professional.

• Install Windows 2008 R2 and activate it
• Apply Windows 2008 R2 SP1
• Configure Active directory using dcpromo command
• Create domain accounts for SharePoint farm and other service applications and for SQL server too.
• Install SharePoint server 2010 enterprise, but do not run product and technologies wizard. Remember to uncheck the checkbox at the finish of the SharePoint installation wizard.
• Install SharePoint server 2010 SP1 (Download links to SP1 and other CUs are available here.
• Install June 2011 cumulative update.
• Restart the machine for any registry changes to take affect.
• Start the installion SQL Server 2008 R2
• Select PowerPivot for Sharepoint.
• Select new Farm from the dropdown of SQL server installation wizard window.
•  Enter Farm credentials, Passphrease, Central Administration port number, and other SharePoint related details.
• Above details which you enter will be used by SQL server to configure SharePoint, basically what SharePoint product and technologies wizard.
• Proceed by clicking next and let SQL server installation wizard configure Sharepoint and create database.
• Once SQL server installation finishes successfully, Open central administration site and check it everything has been configured as the entries made by you during SQL installation.
• Install Visual Studio 2010, ultimate edition and activate it.
• Install Office 2010 Professional and activate it.
• Optionally Install Visio 2010 Premium Edition if you want to create workflow that can be imported into SharePoint 2010.
• Configure SSRS (SQL server reporting services) for Access services feature using Start Menu--> Programs-->Configuration Tools->SQL Server 2008 R2-->Reporting services configuration  Manager.
• Post above step, configure SSRS association from central administration site.
• Optionally install Office web apps in you need it.