SessionState SQL-mode authentication

I've had nothing but trouble getting persistent (between separate browser sessions) authentication to work.

OK - I followed the instructions on the support site:

http://support.Winhost.com/KB/a626/how-to-enable-aspnet-sql-server-session-on-your-web.aspx

I had them create a database and I put this in my web.config file in the <system.web> section:

<sessionState mode="SQLServer" allowCustomSqlDatabase = "true" sqlConnectionString="data Source=s03.Winhost.com; database=db_XXXXX_sessionstate;user id=DB_xxxxx_sessionstate_user; password=xxxxxx" cookieless="false" timeout="50000" />

Nothing has been written to this database - authentication still works but not between sessions. I also changed the database name to be invalid and no error. Why is this line being ignored? Following is my entire web.config file:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<!--
For more information on how to configure your ASP.NET application, please visit
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=169433
-->

<configuration>

<connectionStrings>
<add name="CRMConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=s03.Winhost.com;Initial Catalog=DB_xxxx_crm;User ID=DB_xxxxx_crm_user; password=xxxxx"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
<add name="LocalSqlServer" connectionString="Data Source=s03.Winhost.com;Initial Catalog=DB_12385_crm;User ID=DB_xxxx_crm_user; password=xxxxx"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
</connectionStrings>
<system.web>
<roleManager enabled="true" />
<compilation debug="false" targetFramework="4.0" />
<authentication mode="Forms">

<forms name=".ASPXFORMSAUTH" loginUrl="Default.aspx" protection="All" path="/" timeout="5000000" />

</authentication>
<authorization>
</authorization>
<sessionState mode="SQLServer" allowCustomSqlDatabase = "true" sqlConnectionString="data Source=s03.Winhost.com; database=db_xxxx_sessionstate;user id=DB_xxxxx_sessionstate_user; password=xxxxx" cookieless="false" timeout="50000" />

</system.web>
<location path="Admin">
<system.web>
<authorization>
<deny users="?" />
</authorization>
</system.web>
</location>
<location path="Client">
<system.web>
<authorization>
<deny users="?" />
</authorization>
</system.web>
</location>
</configuration>


Can anyone help? By the way, I set the session cookie using the code:

FormsAuthentication.SetAuthCookie(Username.Text, true);

HELP???!!!

 

How are you being made aware that the SQL session is not working? If you are getting an error message, we will need you to provide us a full copy of the error message.

 

OK - Ray, now I'm really confused. I am trying to get persistent authentication to work - maybe this has nothing to do with that SQL session thing... I was simply trying to use a "Keep me logged on" feature using FormsAuthentication.SetAuthCookie(Username.Text, true). I did find that this works on Firefox and my Mac, but doesn't work on IE 8 (but does on another machine.) Yahoo or Google don't remember my authentication either, so I finally figured out that I had the setting "delete browsing history on exit" set.

Sorry to take your time, but can you tell me - This SessionState in SQL does not have anything to do with the authentication cookies, does it?

 

I think it will be better if you give me a URL and a test account to use. This way I can run through the steps and understand what you are going through.