SQL Server Express 2008 using (local) in connection string

Question

Is it possible to connect to a SQL Server Express 2008 database in ASP.NET with a server name of (local) like "server=(local);integrated security=SSPI;database=DBNAME"?

I'm working with another developer on a project and it's getting annoying having to have 2 different version of web.config because he is using SQL Server 2008 and (local) works, but I can't seem to get it to work with SQL Server 2008 Express locally.

The database is located on the same computer as the .NET code in case that matters.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Assuming you both have SQL Express installed with the default instance name "SQLEXPRESS", you can have 1 connection string like:

server=.\SQLEXPRESS;integrated security=SSPI;database=DBNAME

The "." in the connection string is used to represent the local machine.

Answer 2

You can use the SQL Server Configuration Manager tool to create an alias. Give the alias the same name on both your machine, and then you can just reference the alias in your configuration files.

I don't know if the Configuration Manager tool is actually included with the Express version of SQL Server, but if not then you can just use the registry key (it still works with Express editions). Just get your coworker to set up the alias and then export the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\ConnectTo

You can then import that key on your local computer. Things are slightly more complicated if you're on 64-bit Windows (because you have to set up the alias in both the 64-bit and 32-bit registry).