How to connect to Umbraco Content Datasource?

Owned by Sergey Yuryev(gmail)
Last updated: Feb 08, 2017 by Natalia Sandovska (Unlicensed)
2 min read

Basic introduction about how to create connection to data source please find here How to connect to Content Data-source?

Umbraco MS SQL Connection

This connection is a primary connection to export/import content. iLangL Cloud is using this string to connect directly to Microsoft SQL Server database. 

To make it work there should be opened connection between Ms SQL server where hosted Umbraco database with content and server where hosted iLangL Cloud.

Here is a reference how to connecting to SQL Server over the Internet - Connecting to SQL Server over the Internet

And video:

Parameters:

  • Server(Required) - the name or network address of the instance of SQL Server to which to connect;
  • Port(Optional) - the server port, will be added to server name  'Server':'Port';
  • User Id(Required) - the SQL Server login account;
  • Password(not always required *) - the password for the SQL Server account logging on;
  • Database(Required) - the name of the database;
  • Table prefix(Optional) - the database table prefix for you CMS installation, for Umbraco usually empty.

*

In case of using Integrated security on customer's side, connection without password can be established using Local connection


Here is like will look final connection string generated to Generic Content Provider:

Server=[Server]:[Port];Database=[Database];Uid=[User Id];Pwd=[Password];

Umbraco HTTP Connection

This connection is used to invoke some of Umbraco HTTP Web API functionality during content import operation. 'Content Copy' and 'Content Publish' Umbraco features are invoked by this connection.

Parameters:

  • Server(Required) - the web URL of website(for example company.com);
  • Port (Optional) - website port(for example when Port=80 requests will be send to http://company.com:80);
  • User Id (Required) -  Umbraco account name;
  • Password (Required) - Umbraco account password.

All other parameters for 'Umbraco HTTP Connection' will be ignored.

Umbraco Web Services Connection

iLangL Cloud imports content to Umbraco CMS via MS SQL database connection. Umbraco is using content cache to optimize server workload and increase performance.

When content imported directly to database, Umbraco web application doesn't know about this operation and keeps in cache old content.

To refresh this content you need to setup 'Umbraco Web Services Connection'

After system imports target content it's invoke Umbraco web service "cacherfresher.asmx"  and reset content cache of updated content. 

"cacherefresher.asmx" located at <website utl>/umbraco/webservices/cacherefresher.asmx

Without this connection content 'Import and Publish' mode will not work properly.

You can use the same user account for 'Umbraco HTTP Connection' and 'Umbaco Web Services Connection'. The only one difference is exists and this is the password.

The "cacherefresher.asmx" web service are using 'specific' authentication model. Instead of customer password it's used password cache. This is the reason why we add separate data source for this service.


Parameters:

  • Server (Required) - the web url of website(for example company.com);
  • Port (Optional) - website port(for example when Port=80 requests will be send to http://company.com:80);
  • User Id (Required) -  Umbraco account name;
  • Password (Required) - Umbraco account hash password.



All other parameters for 'Umbraco Web Services Connection' will be ignored.

Where to get user password hash?

To get user password hash you need to login to MS SQL Umbraco Database and invoke next script:

Getting user password hash 
SELECT  
   [userPassword]
FROM  [dbo].[umbracoUser]
Where [userEmail] = '<USER EMAIL>'


<USER EMAIL> - replace with real user email