Failed to start WP due to an error connecting to the database

Products

• CA Automic One Automation

Issue/Introduction

Automation Engine running on Windows server. The WP failed to start with the following message in the log - 

20210608/194803.057 - U00003545 UCUDB: Opening database ...
20210608/194803.057 - U00029112 UCUDB - Length of the DB-History area: 100
20210608/194803.123 - U00029108 UCUDB: SQL_ERROR    Database handles  DB-HENV: 93ae90  DB-HDBC: 93af70
20210608/194803.123 - U00003591 UCUDB - DB error info: OPC: 'SQLDriverConnect' Return code: 'ERROR'
20210608/194803.123 - U00003592 UCUDB - Status: '08001' Native error: '-2146893007' Msg: 'SSL Provider: The client and server cannot communicate, because they do not possess a common algorithm.'
20210608/194803.123 - U00003592 UCUDB - Status: '08001' Native error: '-2146893007' Msg: 'Client unable to establish connection'
20210608/194803.126 - U00003590 UCUDB - DB error: 'SQLDriverConnect', 'ERROR   ', '08001', 'Client unable to establish connection'

The ODBC connection test failed in the ODBC driver console returns the same message.

Environment

Release : 12.1 and higher

Component : AUTOMATION ENGINE

Cause

The ODBC driver is not compatible with the Microsoft SQL server release 

Resolution

The below error message confirms that there is a problem connecting to the database through ODBC driver. 

The ODBC connection test failure confirms the problem with connecting to the database. Ensure the ODBC driver running gon the Automic server is compatible with the MS SQL Server release.

SQL Server driver support matrix
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/windows/system-requirements-installation-and-driver-files?view=sql-server-ver15 

Install server compatible ODBC release.

Delete and reconfigure the DSN for Automic connection using the latest supported SQL client driver.

Run the connection test in the ODBC console. Ensure it returns successfully.

Update the ODBC driver URL in the ..\..\Automation.Platform\AutomationEngine\bin\ucsrvc.ini file to use the native client.

Example: 

SQLDRIVERCONNECT=ODBCVAR=NNNNNNRN,Driver={ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server};Server=tcp:sqlserver-hostname.com,1433;Database=AUTOMIC;Uid=AUTOMIC;PWD=--10F198C996708D6820C634222B1D8D2C97;MARS_CONNECTION=Yes

Restart the Automation Engine services.

Additional Information

Windows ODBC driver support matrix
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/windows/system-requirements-installation-and-driver-files?view=sql-server-ver15