MSSQL – Two common issues while restoring a backup and it’s solutions

There are two most common issues while restoring the database (usually ending in .bak format).

First error
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: The backup set holds a backup of a database other than the existing ‘user_database‘ database. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Express.Smo)

Solution for First error

On the Restore page that loads up, make sure that the Destination for restore has the database you want to restore and in the Source for Restore, choose From device: And browse by clicking [..] and Add the file location there, the location where your database backup resides. You may need to browse the backup. If you get permission denied, copy the bak in the MSSQL folder.

Attaching the database backup file

Restore it. Make sure that the Restore Checkbox is selected. And Click OK. And get ready for the error

Here comes the first errorSystem.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: The backup set holds a backup of a database other than the existing ‘user_database’ database. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Express.Smo)
And the solution is to go to Options -> Overwrite Existing Database . But if you aren’t so lucky, you will be welcomed by another error as seen below. where it’s solution is to edit the path from D:\ to C:\ or whichever Drive, where your MSSQL is installed.

System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Directory lookup for the file “D:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\user_database.mdf” failed with the operating system error 3(The system cannot find the path specified.). (Microsoft.SqlServer.Express.Smo)

Both THE Solutions are in a single screen shot. The final screenshot

HTTP 405: The HTTP verb used to access this page is not allowed

On an html page, one of our customers was getting this issue. Despite asking him to change the extension to .asp, he insisted to have html extension and still process the HTTP verbs, where it is POST method here.

Situation becomes like this a static page wants to be read a dynamic page and process the values obtaining from POST method. Solution is to make the .html read as .asp with asp dll, just like we do html parse as php in Linux boxes Here are the steps to do it on a Windows 2003 machine

1. Start –> Run –> inetmgr
2. Websites –> website/domain name in question
3. Right Click on the domain –> Properties –> Home Directory –> Configuration
4. In the tab Mappings –> Add an extension for .html and .htm , if it is missing (most cases it will be missing) and edit to add all verbs (POST, GET, HEAD are needed)
5. Fields to be added are as below,

Executable : C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\asp.dll
Extension : .html
Limit to : GET,HEAD,POST,TRACE

And Click Apply, OK All is well !!

Bad Request (Invalid Hostname) when accessing via IP

Customer wanted to have a dedicated IP, but once I change the IP from the plesk control panel, I couldn’t get the website when accessed using IP. Instead, it was giving me the plesk control panel’s default page. Reason ? Default Website was having the IP as “All Unassigned”. Set that to the main IP address. But after that I was getting a new error.

What I could get was “Bad Request (Invalid Hostname)” in bold letters. Here is what I did to fix the same.

Start -> Run -> inetmgr -> Expand the (+) -> Websites -> Right click on the domain name -> Take Properties -> Website -> IP Address (make sure that it has the dedicated IP assigned there) and then click “Advanced”

Add/Edit Web Site Identification

IP Address : Choose the dedicated IP from drop down list
TCP/IP Port : 80
Host Header Value : Leave it blank (Important)

Leaving the Host Header Value should fix the issue and fetch the website when accessing it using the IP.

One website in Plesk is asking for user name and password. What is the solution

This is common issue, but solutions varies based on situations. It could be one or a combination of a solutions listed below. If you had to go through another solution to solve it, please add it over here for others.

• Permission issue was making the website to ask for the password. Run the Plesk permissions fix from the Plesk reconfigurator. It could help you 10% of the time
• If it is asking for username and password, right after you changed the password of the account, 80% of the cases, below command based solution would work.
  

  cd %plesk_bin%
  websrvmng –update-anon-password –domain-name=domainname.com

• Login to plesk, select the domain, click web directories. And there, select the the protection tab and click remove protection if enabled – Only 5% chances to have this solve your issue
• Try resetting the domain password from Plesk, with Additional Write/Modify permissions checked. This may sync the IUSR_username’s password and the Plesk/FTP password. If it didn’t move on to next option to manually synchronize it.
• Go to IIS > Web sites > domainname.com > Properties > Directory Security tab > Click on Edit button within “Authentication and access control” section > enter “password” in password filed > click OK.
  After that, Go to Users Management > find user IUSR_pleskusername > Right Click > set password > proceed > enter “password” > click OK. If this also didn’t fix, issue is much more serious and move on to next options
• Depending on the Plesk versions you use, Plesk group `psacln` should be allowed to access the server from the network. For that Go to, Administrative Tools > Security Settings > Local Polices > User Rights Assignment > Access this computer from the network
• Check whether there is any new FTP accounts added with the “Home directory” as httpdocs itself. If so please remove it and then change the password at Domain Setup and save it
• Check whether the plesk_username and IIS_pleskusername are added and has proper permissions for the DriveLetter:\Inetpub\vhosts\domainname.com as well as DriveLetter:\Inetpub\vhosts\domainname.com\httpdocs.

Okay those are my current solutions.