SQL Server Native Client Support for LocalDB

Beginning in SQL Server 2012, a lightweight version of SQL Server, called LocalDB, will be available. This topic discusses how to connect to a database in a LocalDB instance.

Remarks

For more information about LocalDB, including how to install LocalDB and configure your LocalDB instance, see:

• SQL Server Express LocalDB Reference

• SQL Server 2014 Express LocalDB

To summarize, LocalDB allows you to:

• Use sqllocaldb.exe i to discover the name of the default instance.

• Use the AttachDBFilename connection string keyword to specify which database file the server should attach. When using AttachDBFilename, if you do not specify the name of the database with the Database connection string keyword, the database will be removed from the LocalDB instance when the application closes.

• Specify a LocalDB instance in your connection string:

SERVER=(localdb)\v11.0  

If necessary, you can create a LocalDB instance with sqllocaldb.exe. You can also use sqlcmd.exe to add and modify databases in a LocalDB instance. For example, sqlcmd -S (localdb)\v11.0.

See Also

SQL Server Native Client Features