ssms - 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-PCcwolf
Auto-create:        Yes
State:              Running
Last start time:    6/12/2014 8:34:11 AM
Instance pipe name: np:\.pipeLOCALDB#C86052DDsqlquery
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)