Creating a MySite web app successfully & Troubleshooting

I've recently ran into some minor issues while installing a MySite web application, so I thought I'd share my findings with you.

If you need some help installing MySites for the first time, I found this great video tutorial by Hilton Giesenow on how to create a MySite web application: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sharepointserver/ff356863.aspx

Troubleshooting

Problem 1
When you are​ presented with the error "Unknown Error" when you clicked on OK to create the web application and the log entry says something like:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows SharePoint Services 3
Event Category: Database
Event ID: 3351
Date:  2010/12/10
Time:  03:58:51 PM
User:  N/A
Computer: SVR-26
Description:
SQL database login failed. Additional error information from SQL Server is included below.

 

Login failed for user 'domain\nvanbreda'.

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Solution 1
Instead of using SQL Authentication in the Database Name and Authentication section under Database Authentication, select Windows Authentication (Recommended)


Problem 2
When you are presented with the error:

"Your personal site cannot be created because the managed path "personal" has not been created for this site. Contact your site administrator for more information."

when trying to create your mysite page for the first time

Solution 2
Add 'personal' to the Managed Paths:

1. Go to Central Administration > Application Management
2. Click on Define Managed paths under the SharePoint Web Application Management heading
3. Select the MySite web application from the Web Application list
4. Enter the word 'personal' in the Path field, without the ''
5. Select the Type as Wildcard inclusion
6. Click OK.  The personal path should be added to the Included paths list as a wildcard inclusion.

Problem 3
When you are presented with the error
"'Your personal site cannot be created because Self-Service Site Creation is not enabled. Contact your site administrator for more information."
when trying to create your mysite page for the first time

Solution 3
Turn on Self-Service site management:

1. Go to Central Administration > Application Management
2. Click on Self-Service site management under Application Security
3. Set Enable Self-Service Site Creation to 'on'
4. Click OK