Connection Manager
The Connection Manager is an Alloy Discovery tool for managing connections to Alloy Discovery. A connection defines which Alloy Discovery database to connect and what technician account to use for this connection. You may need to use the Connection Manager to import the Database Access Key when logging in to Alloy Discovery apps for the first time. For details, see .Importing the Database Access Key
Typically, you use only one connection that is provided by your Alloy Discovery administrator, and you do not need the Connection Manager to manage it.
Run the Connection Manager only when you need to fine-tune your existing connection (for example, to specify the network address of the SQL Server where your database resides) or to create additional connections. Additional connections are required if you work with more than one Alloy Discovery database or when you need to log in to the Alloy Discovery under different accounts (for example, when testing the workflow). When you have more than one connection, the Log in to Alloy Discovery window shows the Connection drop-down list, and you can choose the desired one when logging in to Alloy Discovery.
To create a connection:
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In the Log in to Alloy Discovery window, click Manage Connections to bring up the Connection Manager window.
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In the left pane, click the Plus button
. To create a connection by copying an existing one, select the original connection and click the Copy button 
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In the Name field, specify the connection name. This name will help you identify this connection when logging in.
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Under Technician Account, provide the credentials of the Alloy Discovery account that will access the database using this connection.
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If the Access Key section is empty, click Import and import the Database Access Key using the Access Key Import window. This populates fields in the Access Key and Database Connection sections with the values from the imported key.
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Under Database Connection, fine-tune the database connection details, if needed: .
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In the SQL Server field, enter the network address of the SQL Server, which may differ from the SQL Server name specified in the Database Access Key.
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To enable support for TLS 1.2, select the Enable TLS 1.2 support check box. When the box is selected, the app will use Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server (MSOLEDBSQL).
NOTE: Using the MSOLEDBSQL driver is required when your SQL Server administrator upgrades to TLS 1.2 on the SQL Server, as recommended by Microsoft. For details, see Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server is disabled or missing.
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Click OK.
Connection Manager window
Use the Connection Manager window to create new connections, modify the existing connections, or to delete the connections that you do not need.
TIP: To access the Connection Manager window, click Manage Connections in the Log in to Alloy Discovery dialog box.
The left pane displays all the connections that are available on the local computer, and allows you to create, delete, and copy connections.
The right pane displays the details on the selected connection:
Name - the connection name.
The Access Key section displays the details about the Database Access Key imported to your computer. Your Alloy Discovery administrator may need this information to identify the key and verify it.
The Database Connection section displays the details on the database connection, and lets you fine-tune and test the connection:
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SQL Server - the network address of the SQL Server hosting the Alloy Discovery database (for example,
sqlserver.example.com) that the connection will use to access the SQL server from your local computer. -
Database - the database name. Typically, this is the database specified in the Database Access Key.
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Test Connection - verifies the connection.
IMPORTANT: The network address may differ from the SQL Server name specified in the Database Access Key. If the SQL Server instance uses a non-standard port, include the port number after the SQL Server's name, such as: sqlserver.example.com, 3487.
The Technician Account section displays the details on the Alloy Discovery account:
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Authentication - the authentications type (either Windows Authentication or Standard Authentication)
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Username - the Alloy Discovery user name. For Windows Authentication, it is your current Windows user name.
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Password - the Alloy Discovery password.
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Advanced Login Screen - shows additional controls in the Log in to Alloy Discovery window. In the Advanced mode you will be able to specify a different SQL Server, database, or authentication type, if this choice is supported by the Database Access Key. Please contact your Alloy Discovery administrator for information to be used.