MS Project Pro 2003 cannot connect to Project Server 2003

[Bluesbreaker]

Hi All,

I have the following environment:

- Single computer installation of the Project Server 2003 (Project Server,
MS SQL Server 2000, SharePoint Services are all on the same machine, the
server is Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition). Also MS Project Pro 2003 is
installed here.
- Client computer with MS Project Pro 2003 installed, OS version is Win XP
Professional.
- Both computers, the server and the client, are in the same domain.

When opening MS Project Pro on the client machine it shows the following
alert:

"Cannot connect.
Project was unable to establish a connection with the selected Project
Server. This could be caused by a loss of network connectivity, invalid user
name or password, lack of an enterprise global template, or problems with the
Project Server or database, or your Project Server may not have enterprise
features enabled.

[ OK ] "

Clicking the "Test connection" button in the Collaborate pane of the Options
dialog shows "URL validated successfully" message.

I have set up two user accounts for this machine on the Project Server
hoping that at least one will work - these are 1) domain user account with
administrator permissions on the client machine and 2) Project Server user.
Both belong to the Project Manager security group on the Project Server side.

I have tried both Windows and Project Server authentication using the
accounts above from the client machine side with no result.

At the same time Project Server Web access works fine from this client
machine via Internet Explorer, even Project Center and Resource Center can be
opened in MS Project Pro.

Our system administrator says there are no closed ports or other
restrictions inside our local network.

MS Project Pro, which is installed on the server, works with the Project
Server without any problems with the full range of the functionality
available.


Any advice will be greatly appreciated,
Thanks!
***

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Could be permissions on the MDAC directory or msdacs.dll file which should
have anonymous access enabled.

--


Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
"We wrote the books on Project Server"
http://www.msprojectexperts.com

For Project Server FAQs visit
http://www.projectserverexperts.com

For Project FAQs visit
http://www.mvps.org/project

 

[Bluesbreaker]

Could be permissions on the MDAC directory or msdacs.dll file which should
have anonymous access enabled.

Thanks for your advice,
Unfortunately I failed to locate either MDAC directory or msdacs.dll file on
the client machine to check permissions.
Although I have successfully set up MS Project Pro on another machine which
connects to the Project Server properly, even when switched to the LAN
through the same wire and with same IP address which the machine with
unsuccessful setup had. So this shows for sure that the issue is not related
with network settings.

The difference between these machines are:
Successfull connection:
Win XP Professional, no service packs, MDAC version 2.7 RTM
Unsuccesfull connection:
Win XP Professional SP2, MDAC 2.8 SP1

But I have to set up that exact machine with no possibility to reinstall
Windows without SP and with older version of MDAC on it to match settings of
the machine with working MS Project.

Please advice next possible steps.

Thanks a lot!
***

 

[Bluesbreaker]

Thanks, this issue is resolved.

I have upgraded to Project Server 2003 SP 1 and MS Project 2003 SP1 and now
connection to the Project Server can be established correctly. Hope my
experience will be useful for someone else.

Regards