How to connect to LocalDb
I installed LocalDb using the SqlLocalDb.msi package and I can connect to it using SSMS using the server name (LocalDb)\v11.0
. So far so good. The problem is that when I try to connect to it via a .NET 4.5 application I get the error
The server was not found or was not accessible.
I started with the connection string Data Source=(LocalDb)\v11.0
and then added many things to no avail (integrated security true/sspi, attaching a db, using instances, etc.)
I am totally unable to connect to localdb with any tool including MSSMA, sqlcmd, etc. You would think Microsoft would document this, but I find nothing on MSDN. I have v12 and tried (localdb)\v12.0
and that didn't work. Issuing the command sqllocaldb i MSSQLLocalDB
shows that the local instance is running, but there is no way to connect to it.
c:\> sqllocaldb i MSSQLLocalDB
Name: MSSQLLocalDB
Version: 12.0.2000.8
Shared name:
Owner: CWOLF-PC\cwolf
Auto-create: Yes
State: Running
Last start time: 6/12/2014 8:34:11 AM
Instance pipe name: np:\\.\pipe\LOCALDB#C86052DD\tsql\query
c:\>
c:\> sqlcmd -L
Servers:
;UID:Login ID=?;PWD:Password=?;Trusted_Connection:Use Integrated Security=?;
*APP:AppName=?;*WSID:WorkStation ID=?;
I finally figured it out!! the connect string is (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB
, e.g.:
$ sqlcmd -S \(localdb\)\\MSSQLLocalDB
1> select 'hello!'
2> go
------
hello!
(1 rows affected)
Use (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB
. That is the LocalDB instance intended for applications, independent of Visual Studio version.
Disregard my original answer: "With SQL Server 2014 Express LocalDB, use (localdb)\ProjectsV12
. This works in both Visual Studio 2013 and SQL Server 2014 Management Studio." While ProjectsV12 will indeed give you a LocalDB instance, it's the wrong one, intended for use by SQL Server Data Tools.