Question : Linked Server in SQL 2005 to Advantage Database Server 8.0

Having a real problem trying to create a linked server to an "Advantage Database Server" 8.0 in SQL Server 2005.  I have downloaded the "Advantage OLE DB Provider" Release 8.0 and Release 8.1 for Windows and installed both (http://devzone.advantagedatabase.com/dz/content.aspx?key=20&Release=10&Product=15&Platform=6).  I had to install "Advantage OLE DB Provider" Release 8.1 because 8.0 didn't show up in the provider list in SQL Server 2005 Server Objects>Linked Servers>Providers.

I have tried the following in SQL Server:
SELECT * FROM
OpenRowSet(
'Advantage OLE DB Provider',
'\\oma2blade02\PurchasingPlus\DATA DICTIONARY.ADD';'';'',
'SELECT * FROM PRC850')
but I get this error:
OLE DB provider "Advantage OLE DB Provider" for linked server "(null)" returned message "Error 6097:  Bad IP address specified in the connection path or in the ADS.INI file.  axServerConnect   AdsConnect".
Msg 7303, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider "Advantage OLE DB Provider" for linked server "(null)".

I don't what ADS.INI it's talking about.  The one on the SQL Server (OMA2PURCHASEDEV) or the one on the Advantage Database Server (OMA2BLADE02).  Here is what the ADS.INI file says in the folder "C:\_$PALMAS" on the Advantage Database Server (OMA2BLADE02):
OMA2BLADE02
LAN_IP=172.19.65.10
LAN_PORT=2001
MTIER_LOCAL_CONNECTIONS=1
[SETTINGS]
MULTITASKING_OFF=1
ENABLE_BLOCKING=1

The Advantage Database Server has two IP addresses 172.19.65.10 and 172.19.65.11.  I can connect to the Advantage Database Server through MS Access using the "Advantage ODBC Driver" Release 8.0.
Here is the connection string from one of the linked tables in the MS Access Database:
ODBC;DSN=PurchasingPlusODBC;DataDirectory=\\oma2blade02\PurchasingPlus\DATA DICTIONARY.ADD;SERVER=NotTheServer;CharSet=ANSI;Compression= ;DefaultType=FoxPro;Rows=False;AdvantageLocking=OFF;Locking=Record;MemoBlockSize=64;MaxTableCloseCache=5;ServerTypes=1;TrimTrailingSp

PALMAS is the company who made the software that we are using which runs using the Advantage Database Server.  They have two folders on the Advantage Database Server (OMA2BLADE02) that contains ads.ini files.  The one above in the "C:\_$PALMAS" folder and another in "C:\PURCHASE" and is says:
[SETTINGS]
MULTITASKING_OFF=1
ENABLE_BLOCKING=0
MTIER_LOCAL_CONNECTIONS=1

I am not familar with Advantage Database Server but it seems it is very difficult to connect to.  Can anyone help?

Answer : Linked Server in SQL 2005 to Advantage Database Server 8.0

You just create a linked server using the OLE DB provider for ODBC. You use the DSN that you were using for MS Access (PurchasingPlusODBC)

ODBC is on its way out but can be more reliable for these less well known databases.

Here is some more info on setting up an ODBC linked server:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Microsoft/Development/MS-SQL-Server/Q_21470542.html

Another issue might be that the SQL Server can;t get to the remote .INI file under the SQL Server service account (because its local system). If the ODBC route doesn;t work let me know and we can pursue that,