How to Resolve Login Issues Due to IIS Forms Authentication

  Who is this article for?  

  Ideagen Smartforms users configuring the system.

  Understanding of Windows server is required.

If you are experiencing issues where logging in with any customer returns a message stating that the customer is offline, it is possible that IIS Forms Authentication may be the cause of the issue. First, ensure that usernames and passwords are entered correctly. The Customer Name and password are case sensitive. Next, ensure that the following conditions are met:

1. The database online
2. The SQL credentials are working or Windows authentication permitted for the IIS App Pool identity
3. The SQL database table mfs_log shows a successful login for the user who attempted to log in and had received a message that the customer is offline error.
4. All customers show active on the Modify Customers Setup.aspx page
5. All connection tests return successful on the Modify Customers Setup.aspx page
6. No errors shown in the Windows Event Viewer
7. No errors shown in the IIS logs
8. No errors are listed in MFS logs when attempting to login. Only records a successful login attempt.

If these conditions are met, it is possible that IIS Forms Authentication may be turned off, and that this is the cause of the login issue. To check this, connect to the machine hosting the Mi-Enterprise Middleware Server instance in question. Open Internet Information Services Manager. 

On the left panel, click on the web site in question. In the central panel, select Authentication. If this is turned “off”, switch this to “on” and then verify if the issue persists.