TheSharePoint 2010 Business Data Connectivity Service allows connecting withexternal data systems (WCF service, database, .Net assemblies).
This is animproved version of the Business Data Catalog in SharePoint 2007. But sometimes you canget an error... " Business Data Connectivity metadata store is currently unavailable" when navigating to the External Content Types using SharePoint Designer 2010
To resolve this issue:
Step 1. This problem can happen if your SharePoint is installed in theWindows 7 OS. You can solve this by installing the Windows6.1-KB976462-v2-x64Hot fix. Another reason for this error would be that the (BDC) service isn’t running properly as described in Step 2.
Install Windows6.1-KB976462-v2-x64
- Download it from http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=23806
- Install it and re-start the PC.
- Start the Business Data Connectivity Service and the Managed Metadata Web Service if they are stopped (follow Step 2).
Thisshould resolve the BDC error.
Step 2: For windows Server 2008, ensure all updates are installed using Microsoft windows Update. If the problem persists again after restarting the PC then go to
1.Central Administration ---> System Settings---> Manage services in server
2.Start the Business Data Connectivity Service and the Managed Metadata web service if they are stopped
3.Restart the Designer