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
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)