ASP.NET FormsAuthentication.Authenticate() is not working - asp.net

Question

I have created a user by using CreateUserWizard - control.
My web.config file is as follows:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<appSettings/>
<connectionStrings>
<remove name="LocalSqlServer"/>
<add name="ConnString1" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=IceWebPortal_SQL2K5;user=sa;password=;integrated security=true;" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
<add name="LocalSqlServer" connectionString="Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=aspnet_membership_test;Integrated Security=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
</connectionStrings>
<system.web>
<!--
Set compilation debug="true" to insert debugging
symbols into the compiled page. Because this
affects performance, set this value to true only
during development.
-->
<compilation debug="true" />
<!--
The <authentication> section enables configuration
of the security authentication mode used by
ASP.NET to identify an incoming user.
-->
<authentication mode="Forms">
<forms
name="CookieDemo"
loginUrl="Default.aspx"
protection="All"
timeout="30"
path="/"
/>
</authentication>
<!--<authorization>
<deny users="?"/>
</authorization>-->
</system.web>
<location path="Default.aspx">
<system.web>
<authorization>
<allow users="*"></allow>
</authorization>
</system.web>
</location>
</configuration>
I am finding that, FormsAuthentication.Authenticate(username, password); is always returning false.
string username = this.usernameTextBox.Text;
string password = this.passwordTextBox.Text;
bool success = FormsAuthentication.Authenticate(username, password);
if (success)
{
}
What can be the problem?

Answer 1

You need to add e.g. a MembershipProvider configuration or add users directly to web.config (which is probably not a good idea)-
Example:
<membership>
<providers>
<clear />
<add name="AspNetSqlMembershipProvider"
type="System.Web.Security.SqlMembershipProvider, System.Web, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"
connectionStringName="ApplicationServices"
enablePasswordRetrieval="false"
enablePasswordReset="true"
requiresQuestionAndAnswer="false"
requiresUniqueEmail="false"
passwordFormat="Hashed"
maxInvalidPasswordAttempts="5"
minRequiredPasswordLength="6"
minRequiredNonalphanumericCharacters="0"
passwordAttemptWindow="10"
passwordStrengthRegularExpression=""
applicationName="/" />
</providers>
</membership>