Can't connect to linked SQL server: Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider

I find this most perplexing.

I have two servers, DEV and PROD. Now my DEV server works just great, I can connect to the linked server, query, etc... all is well.

So I'm setting up my PROD server and when I go to add the linked server I get:

Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI".... and Unable to complete login process due to delay in opening server connection.

Now I am running SQL Server 2005 and connecting to an SQL 2000 server.

The odd part is that this works just fine on DEV.

When I go to create the linked server I set:

Linked Server: "LinkedServerName"

Server Type: "SQL Server"

and that's it.

I go to Security and enter my DOMAIN\USER.ACCOUNT and then enter the login creds for the linked server.

When I click "OK" I get the above mentioned error code.

Any thoughts?

Please see if http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=990327&SiteID=1 could be useful for you.|||

Thanks, I'll check that out.

This whole thing is very odd as I even saved the working LinkedServer as TSQL script then executed it on the PROD server and with the EXACT same information for the linked server it fails to work.

I'll read up on the link you provided and keep my fingers crossed.

No in my case I'm not having an issue with impersonation. The credentials are all configured the same on both servers, yet my DEV server works while PROD fails...

Here is the error message I receive when I try to test the linked server connection:

"The test connection to the linked server failed."

Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI" for linked server "MaxersServer".
OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI" for linked server "MaxersServer" returned message "Unable to complete login process due to delay in opening server connection". (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)