Which statement correctly defines a System DSN?

Question

Options

• ANot specific to an individual user. Anyone with permission to access the data source can use it.
• BSpecific to an individual user. It is available only to the user who creates it.
• CNot specific to an individual user. It can be shared among users even though it is created locally.
• DSpecific to an individual user. But it can be shared among users.

• A
  90% (35)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  3% (1)
• D
  5% (2)

Explanation

A System DSN (Data Source Name) is defined at the operating system level, making it available to any user or service on that machine with the appropriate permissions - not tied to any single account. This is why A is correct: it is not user-specific and is accessible to anyone granted permission.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B describes a User DSN, which is created by and visible only to a specific user account.
• C is a partial truth that trips people up - System DSNs are shareable, but they are not "created locally" in the User DSN sense; the phrasing is misleading and incomplete.
• D contradicts itself: if it's specific to an individual user, that's a User DSN by definition - User DSNs cannot be shared.

Memory tip: Think of it this way - System = System-wide, User = User-only. A System DSN belongs to the machine, not the person logged in, so any authorized user or background service (like a Windows service) can use it.

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