vCenter Heartbeat - Failed to obtain the databases list using connection string:

The database tier of  vCenter Heartbeat Cluster reports the following errors:

SqlServer: Failed to obtain the databases list using connection string: Initial Catalog=master;Data Source=(local);Integrated Security=SSPI. Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'.

and

SqlServer: GetInstanceDatabases connection.Open() exception: System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'.

Resolution: The local 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM' system account doesn't have the necessary rights to access SQL or the vCenter databases causing vCenter Heartbeat to error out.

Run the following command in Query Analyzer to add  'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM' user account to the SQL instance:

sp_grantlogin 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'

Then give the 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM' read access to all SQL Databases. This will allow vCenter heartbeat to monitor the database tier and function properly.

~ Scott March