Sql-server – ADSI Linked Server: Why can I query AD in VBA, but not as a Linked Server

active-directorysql serversql-server-2012

After all the reading and research I've done, this seems like the most logical place to post this question:

Why can I query Active Directory using VBA, but not a Linked Server in SQL Management Studio 2012?

First, I have been able to do this before, but many moons ago with SQL Server 2005.

Here is the query I am attempting:

SELECT * FROM OpenQuery(
ADSI,
'SELECT displayName, title, department, employeeID, userAccountControl
FROM ''LDAP://dc=testdomain''
WHERE objectCategory = ''Person'' AND
      objectClass = ''user'' AND
      userAccountControl=512')

Here is the error I'm getting:

Msg 7321, Level 16, State 2, Line 1
An error occured while preparing the query "SELECT displayName, title, department, employeeID, userAccountControl
            FROM 'LDAP://dc=testdomain'
            WHERE objectCategory = 'Person' AND
                  objectClass = 'user' AND
            userAccountControl=512" for execution against OLE DB provider "ADsDSOObject" for linked server "ADSI".

The problem with this error message is that it's very generic and seemingly doesn't yield anything useful. Everything I've read appears to be a permission issue or the syntax of the query, and I assume it's meant in the context to my SQL instance login and how the security is set up in the Linked Server. The VBA code below works and is using a query that's very similar and not even the simplest of queries have worked in the Linked Server. I also have access to the Active Directory I am trying to link to and this is proven by the snippet of VBA code I have at the bottom (only there for reference). Thing is, I believe I have all the right privileges in place to for this to be working.

However, a lot of what's being suggested is on different sites involves doing modifications to the SQL instance that are not readily obvious of what the impacts are long term as this server is still being built. I have temporary elevated privileges to build it out.

Here's the details and parameters in which I've set up the linked server:

SQL Server 11.0.5058
Linked Server: ADSI
Provider: OLE DB Provider for Microsoft Directory Services
Product name: Active Directory Services 2.5
Data source: adsdatasource
Provider string: ADsDSOObject

Be made using the login's current security context

Ole DB Provider  Options:
Allow in process

However, the only thing I've found that might set myself apart from all the other blogs about this error is when I attempt to drill down to the linked servers tables and view (Server Objects > Linked Servers > ADSI > Catalogs > default > Tables). Once I click to expand the Tables level I get the following error:

Failed to retreive data for this request. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc)

Additional information:
    An exception occured while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch.
    (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
        Cannot obtain the required interface ("IID_IDBSchemaRowset") from OLE DB provider "ADsDSOObject"
        for linked server "ADSI". (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 7301)

This IID_IDBSchemaRowset seems to be my only lead, but that looks to be a deep and dark rabbit hole to down and not sure if that's where I need to go. Help!

For Reference

'References: Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.8 Library
Public Sub testADSI()
    On Error Resume Next

    Dim cn As ADODB.Connection
    Dim cmd As ADODB.Command
    Dim rs as ADODB.Recordset
    Dim MySql as String
    Dim n as Integer

    Set cn = New ADODB.Connection
    Set cmd = New ADODB.Command
    Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset

    cn.Provider = "ADsDSOObject"
    cn.Open "Active Directory Provider"

    Set cmd.ActiveConnection = cn

    cmd.Properties("Page Size")= 1000

    MySql = "SELECT displayName, title, department, employeedID, userAccountControl " & _
            "FROM 'LDAP://dc=testdomain' " _ &
            "WHERE objectCategory = 'Person' AND " & _
                  "objectClass = 'user' AND " & _
                  "userAccountControl=512" 

    rs.Open MySql, cn, 1

    If rs.RecordCount > 0 Then
        MsgBox "Sucess! " & rs.RecordCount & " records found!"
    Else
        MsgBox "No records"
    End IF
End Sub

Best Answer

You should be able to query Active Directory without the need for a linked server. In my experience, having the LDAP:// string precisely correct is key.

I'm able to successfully run your query against our Active Directory infrastructure from SQL Server 2012 using this:

SELECT * FROM OPENROWSET
    (
        'ADSDSOObject'
        , 'adsdatasource'
        , 'SELECT displayName, title, department, employeeID, userAccountControl
FROM ''LDAP://DC=some,DC=name,DC=here''
WHERE objectCategory = ''Person'' 
    AND objectClass = ''user'' 
    AND userAccountControl=512'
);

The DC=some,DC=name,DC=here obviously needs to be modified to suit the actual domain name in use.

For instance if your domain name was microsoft.com, you'd use:

DC=microsoft,DC=com

Notice, in this instance, there are only two components. If your domain name was simply "cancorso", you'd use:

DC=cancorso

Hopefully this helps.

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