Set up MSSQL Database

Prerequisites

Ensure that the MSSQL database is reachable and the ports are open to amber (see Set up SQL Database (Beta) for detailed information) and collect the credentials needed to login to the database with a read-only user.

Obtain the certificate

  • Locate the File in the UI: For cloud-hosted instances (Azure SQL, Telekom MSSQL, etc.), check the database console under security or connectivity settings - providers typically offer a direct download link or export for their trusted public CA certificates.

  • Request File from Your DBA, ERP/CRM Provider, or Host: For on-prem installations, private hosting, or dedicated ERP and CRM platforms, ask the system administrator or vendor for the public CA root/intermediate certificate or self-signed certificate used for MSSQL TLS encryption (you will only need the public cert, never the private key).

  • Supported Certificate Types: amber supports Root CA, Intermediate CA, and self-signed certificates, enabling trust for both enterprise PKI chains and standalone database instances.

  • Formats & Encodings (PEM vs. DER): amber supports PEM (Base64) as well as DER (binary) files with X.509 and PKCS#7 encodings. amber accepts both single-certificate PEM files and bundle PEM files (e.g., root and intermediate certificates concatenated together). PEM is preferred - it is easily readable in any text editor and structured as:

    -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----[certificate content]-----END CERTIFICATE-----

  • Lifecycle & Updates: CA chain certificates rarely need updates due to long validity periods, but if a renewal, rotation, or server migration occurs, you can easily upload a replacement certificate anytime directly in the connection settings.

Chat with selected tables

  • MSSQL databases in complex proprietary systems can often have hundreds or thousands of tables and columns. Selecting many and potentially irrelevant tables can decrease accuracy and speed in the answers of amber.

  • Identify the tables and columns relevant to the core business logic or data you would like to access and analyze via the chat. Start with selecting few tables and incrementally add more via the Database Settings.

  • In case of short or cryptical table names, make sure to include a useful table description to help amber choose the right tables for the task. Column descriptions are also editable via the Database Settings.