Connecting to SQL Server Analysis Services using a Different Domain Account that the user currently log on (SSAS on Different Domain and the user logon to another Domain)

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If you have logged in to different domain (Domain XYZ) than the SSAS Server (Domain ABC) belong to (For Ex. SSAS server is member of Domain ABC and user normally log in to Domain XYZ, there is no trust exist between these domains) connecting to SSAS from the work station using various presentation tools (Ex. Excel, Power Pivot) is a big challenge. Here is a simple solution to overcome this issue.

 

Step:-1 – Install 'ShellRunAs' utility from Windows Sysinternals - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc300361

Step:-2 – Right Click on the Application (Excel in this scenario) and choose 'Runas different user(netonly)'

Step:-3 – Key in the User ID and password (Domain of the SSAS – ABC\administrator)

Your application will fireup along with a Command Prompt Windows (Which is normal and as documented at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc300361

Step:-4 – Proceed to connect to Analysis Services as normal (As If you are logged in to the Domain ABC from your workstation. Ex. IP Address of the SSAS Server is 10.168.50.45 and this particular server is member of Domain 'ABC')

And, that's it. Everything should work as normal. If you mix and match server connections from Domain ABC and XYZ, all should work without prompting for additional credentials and hassle.