How to connect to LocalDb

Question

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.)

Answer 1

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)     

Answer 2

Use (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB. That is the LocalDB instance intended for applications, independent of Visual Studio version.

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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.