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  • First published by (Microsoft)
  • When: 9 Sep 2011 12:45 PM
  • Last revision by (MVP, Microsoft Community Contributor)
  • When: 23 Apr 2013 1:54 PM
  • Revisions: 14
  • Comments: 9
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Wiki  >  TechNet Articles  >  Troubleshoot SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB

Troubleshoot SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB

Troubleshoot SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB

Install SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB by running SqlLocalDB.msi, found in the SQL Server 2012 Express setup files. You can also download the relevant SqlLocalDB.msi file from the Microsoft Download Center.

Setup Issues:
When upgrading a previous pre-release version of LocalDB, setup requires administrator permission to remove the older version of this product. Copy the SqlLocalDB.msi file to a local folder. Open a command prompt using the 'Run as administrator' option. Navigate to the folder containing the msi file, and then start the msi installation.

Sharing Issues:
When sharing a SqlLocalDB instance with a non-owner, you must re-start the instance for the other users to be able to see the instance you have shared. A non-owner cannot start an instance, so if you are going to share an instance with other users who can access your machine, you also need to be sure it has been started. When you create an instance you can do this as follows:

    sqllocaldb create "MyInstance"
    sqllocaldb share  "MyInstance" "OurInstance"
    sqllocaldb start  "MyInstance"

You should add users explicitly when connected to the instance as the owner, e.g.

    CREATE LOGIN [Domain\User] FROM WINDOWS;
    GRANT CONNECT TO [Domain\User];
    -- other permissions...

In general, though, the purpose of SqlLocalDB is to serve as a sandbox for an individual developer on a machine, not to serve as a development environment for multiple users. Each user should be able to create, start, administer and use his/her own LocalDB instances.

sqlcmd issues:
When using sqlcmd, ensure that you are using the SQL Server 2012 version (found in %Program Files%\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn\). If you have previous versions of sqlcmd installed, calling sqlcmd alone from the command line will most likely use the old version (which isn't localdb-aware) since the older path appears first in your PATH environment variable. It may be a good idea, in general, to manually adjust your PATH environment variable so that the 110 versions are picked up first.

SSMS issues:
When connecting from Management Studio, be sure to connect to the instance using the following format:

    (localdb)\MyInstance

If you are connecting to a shared instance, where you are not the owner, use:

    (localdb)\.\OurInstance

.NET issues:
If you are connecting from .NET, you may find that you need to use the pipe (e.g. LOCALDB#4320ABF8) to connect, and the named instance does not work correctly. You will want to be sure that you have installed the 4.0.2 update for the .NET Framework, because according to this Connect item:
We made an explicit decision not to include .NET Framework 4.0.2 in LocalDB installer. Installing the .NET Framework update would increase the size of the LocalDB installer and cause a likely reboot. Since LocalDB is built to be independent of the .NET, we didn’t think we should take this cost for every LocalDB installation. Future .NET versions (including .NET 4.5, now in CTP) will support LocalDB out of the box. Some developers may also want to opt in for ODBC, PHP Driver/PDO, and probably JDBC in the future. Those developers will not be interested in updating .NET.
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Comments
  • 14 Nov 2011 2:24 PM

    I have compared this article with other ones about the same subject.

    I don't see any mention about CTP3. Is it meaning that the release of SQL Server  2012 is imminent ?

    I know you are not allowed to answer now, but if you reply after the release date, it will be kind

  • 23 Nov 2011 9:38 PM

    I Installed LocalDb on my Windows 7 64bit and try to create a connection using Visual Studio 2010 but their is no data source listed for it. Do I need to install something else?

  • 22 Apr 2012 10:06 PM

    Please note that the connect string format under "SSMS issues" applies only to shared instances. If you are using a private instance, or are the owner of the shared instance, you can connect with "(localdb)\InstanceName".

  • 22 Apr 2012 10:16 PM

    Updated the WIKI based on my previous comment, so it is now correct.

  • 19 Nov 2012 7:56 AM

    I have tried using the named pipes connection string from "sqllocaldb i MyInstance" as well as the shared instance connection  string.  Both fail with a "network-related or instance-specific error occurred..." - when using a named pipe connection string, the suffix of the error message changes to "(provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server).  Are there any API calls that might shed some light on this?

  • 20 Nov 2012 12:16 PM

    Connection strings are described in SQL Server Books Online in two topics. SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB msdn.microsoft.com/.../hh510202.aspx and SqlLocalDB Utility msdn.microsoft.com/.../hh212961.aspx

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