MAXDB ODBC driver and MS SQL SERVER

Question

Dear SAP Community
  I need to set up a linked server from MS Sql Server to a MAXDB instance.
Well, after installing the ODBC driver, I've set up a data source and then I could successfully establish a connection to my MAXDB from a sample Excel file using that datasource.
Then I moved to Sql server in order to define a linked server with this data source, likewise.
Therefore, in the first option as a provider I've selected "Microsoft OLE DB provider for ODBC drivers" then I specified that datasource for both Product Name and Data Source (same setting), however I got the following error.
Could you kindly help me? I have almost spent 2 days on this problem without figuring it out, and any help or hint would be extremely appreciated.
Many many thanks in advance
Alberto
The OLE DB provider "MSDASQL" for linked server "MAXDB2" reported an error. The provider did not give any information about the error.
Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider "MSDASQL" for linked server "MAXDB2". (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 7399)

Answer 1

Just for your information,
I have the connection tested and running, without errors: I had to force the authentication before actually creating it.
However, I don't see any table at the moment, so it would be extremely appreciate if anybody could provide me with some hints, perhaps I do have to put a connection string, as I kept blank those settings (just set only Product Name and Data Source).
Many thanks in advance!
Alberto
/****** Object:  LinkedServer [MAXDB3]    Script Date: 07/18/2011 17:10:29 ******/
IF  EXISTS (SELECT srv.name FROM sys.servers srv WHERE srv.server_id != 0 AND srv.name = N'MAXDB3')EXEC master.dbo.sp_dropserver @server=N'MAXDB3', @droplogins='droplogins'
GO
/****** Object:  LinkedServer [MAXDB3]    Script Date: 07/18/2011 17:10:29 ******/
EXEC master.dbo.sp_addlinkedserver @server = N'MAXDB3', @srvproduct=N'MAXDB3', @provider=N'MSDASQL', @datasrc=N'MAXDB3'
/* For security reasons the linked server remote logins password is changed with ######## */
EXEC master.dbo.sp_addlinkedsrvlogin @rmtsrvname=N'MAXDB3',@useself=N'False',@locallogin=NULL,@rmtuser=N'DBADMIN',@rmtpassword='########'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'collation compatible', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'data access', @optvalue=N'true'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'dist', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'pub', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'rpc', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'rpc out', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'sub', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'connect timeout', @optvalue=N'0'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'collation name', @optvalue=null
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'lazy schema validation', @optvalue=N'false'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'query timeout', @optvalue=N'0'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'use remote collation', @optvalue=N'true'
GO
EXEC master.dbo.sp_serveroption @server=N'MAXDB3', @optname=N'remote proc transaction promotion', @optvalue=N'true'
GO