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Only the user 'ADM' can create new and edit existing users, when using Cognos CAM security

Troubleshooting


Problem

User launches the Controller client, and logs onto Controller with a (Windows) userID that is associated (via Cognos CAM security and Single Sign On) to the Controller user ADM.
  • When logged onto Controller with this user ID, they can successfully create/edit new/existing Controller users.
  
However, if they launch Controller client and logon with a different (Windows) userID (for example "mydomain\JISAACS") then they get the problem
  • Specifically, if they logon using a Windows user account which is associated with a different Controller userID (for example 'ADMIN2'), then they cannot create or edit Controller users (via the 'Maintain - Rights - Users...' menu).

Symptom


 

Cause

There are several potential causes:
  • Scenario #1 - The Windows user (for example "JISAACS") associated with the 'bad' Controller user (for example "ADMIN2") is not a member of the Controller role 'Controller Administrators' (inside the Cognos security namespace).
  • Scenario #2 - Controller user (for example "ADMIN2") does not have 'administrative' permissions inside Controller itself
  • Scenario #3 - Controller user (for example "ADMIN2") is not a member of the 'MAIN' group
  • Scenario #4 - The Controller database application is *not* configured to have 'Security enabled'

Environment

Controller configured to use 'CAM Authentication' (as opposed to the default "native" security):

In almost all cases, this means that users are logging on with their Windows Active Directory userIDs.

Resolving The Problem

Scenario #1
Add the Windows user (associated with ADMIN2) to be a member of the Cognos BI security group role Controller Administrators (as well as 'Controller Users').

Steps:
1. Launch Cognos Connection (http://servername/ibmcognos)
2. Open the section 'Security':

3. Click on 'Cognos'
4. Open the role 'Controller Administrators'
5. Add the user (for example the Windows Active Directory account which is associated with the Controller user 'ADM2') to be a member of this role.

 

Scenario #2

1. Launch the Controller client
2. Click "Maintain - Rights - Users"
3. Highlight the relevant user (for example 'ADMIN2')
4. Tick the box "User Group Administrator":

 
Scenario #3
1. Launch the Controller client
2. Click "Maintain - Rights - Users"
3. Highlight the relevant user (for example 'ADMIN2')
4. Ensure that they are a member of 'MAIN' user group:

 

Scenario #4

1. Launch the Controller client
2. Click "Maintain - Rights - Users"
3. Ensure that the option 'Security System enabled' is ticked:

[{"Product":{"code":"SS9S6B","label":"IBM Cognos Controller"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Component":"Controller","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"10.3;10.2.1;10.2.0;10.1.1;10.1","Edition":"Not Applicable","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB10","label":"Data and AI"}}]

Historical Number

1041127

Document Information

Modified date:
26 March 2020

UID

swg21367279