I'm setting up a new machine and to my surprise it is really difficult to get the localdb working on a new machine. Everything in my solution explorer populated, but nothing shows up in my (localdb) project after I fetch from source (using git).
What is the best way to get my localdb project from my old machine to this new one?
In an ideal world, what i'd like to do is have it set ups so then when some pulls the SSDT project down from our source they can hit deploy and completely populate the localdb project on their machine. Has anyone done this before, know how to do this?
--Disclaimer--
I feel like when talking about localdb it's important make some clarifications, because it seems that when other people post questions like this they get a lot of responses that apply to SQL Server databases.
What a localdb project is:
A localdb SQL Server project is a special server instance that runs only
when its connected to and acts partly like a SQL Server and
contains special instances of databases that only run when a
connection is made to them. A localdb can be used for certain types
of production, but they are most often used as a means to test other
databases.
What a localdb project is not:
A localdb project is NOT a SQL Server database.
I'm well aware that I could back up every DB in my project and manually recover them on the new machine, but that is not what I'm looking to do.
You can achieve this by detaching and attaching process.
Step 1: Find the location of the localDB database.
Right click on the database name and select properties
From the Data File property, you can find the database current location.
Step 2: Detach the current database
EXEC sp_detach_db 'aspnet-IdentityApplication-E2BBF1E6-123-4567-8910-07BC0413419B', 'true';
Step 3: Copy and Paste the localDB to the different location (The location where you want to put the localDB database)
Step 4: Attach the database with the new location
CREATE DATABASE [aspnet-IdentityApplication-E2BBF1E6-123-4567-8910-07BC0413419B]
ON (FILENAME = 'D:\Test\aspnet-IdentityApplication-E2BBF1E6-123-4567-8910-07BC0413419B.mdf'),
(FILENAME = 'D:\Test\aspnet-IdentityApplication-E2BBF1E6-123-4567-8910-07BC0413419B_log.ldf')
FOR ATTACH;
Related
I have written a VB.Net application that uses an SQL Express DB file containing a single table and a handful of stored procedures.
I have successfully built and exported the application to my VPS.
The problem comes when knowing what to do concerning the database file, there is a wealth of stuff online but not specifically to suit my needs.
I plan to use LocalDB on the VPS but being commandline - it is hard to know if the scripts that I have run have been successful after creating an instance , starting it... etc,
I want to keep installation requirements to an absolute minimum on my VPS machine and (in time other end users machines)... hence using LocalDB and not SQL Express
So, what do I have to do on the VPS to enable my application to connect to the database.. ? This was simple when it was Access - (supply the MDB file and run the AccessDatabaseEngine(redistributable) - job done)
The connection on my devt. machine runs as expected.
The connection string in my code is:
Const strSQLConnection As String = "Data Source= (localdb)\v11.0;Database=SoccerTrader;Trusted_Connection=True"
Can anyone help please.. this is driving me around the bend.. surely it cant be that difficult..?
===========================
I have found the following in an MSDN blog which says:
Database as a File: LocalDB connection strings support AttachDbFileName property that allows attaching a database file during the connection process. This lets developers work directly with databases instead of the database server. Assuming a database file (*.MDF file with the corresponding *.LDF file) is stored at “C:\MyData\Database1.mdf” the developer can start working with it by simply using the following connection string: “Data Source=(localdb)\v11.0;Integrated Security=true;AttachDbFileName=C:\MyData\Database1.mdf”.
================ ADDED 12th June =====================
OK, this is really bugging me now... I have read around this till it is coming out of my ears and nothing specifically seems to target what I am trying to do. All the blogs I read refer to installing / running SQL Server and changing permissions etc.
As I have mentioned I am using a VPS and propose to use LocalDB on the VPS to access a simple/small database file for a VB.Net application I am writing.
This is the story so far.
1) I have built a working prototype on my development PC and connected using SQL Express to a database file SoccerTrader.mdf - no problem.
In the Visual Studio Project properties I have added a requirement to the project that checks for SQL Server ..and if it is missing, installs it...
2) I install the project on the VPS and as expected SQL Server 2012 LocalDB is installed .... see here..
3) I have copied the SoccerTrader.MDF and SoccerTrader.LDF files into "C:\BESTBETSoftware\SoccerBot" on the VPS
4) for practical reasons given the problems I am having getting this to work, I have implemented an inputbox for me to specify the connection string when the application runs.... the connection strings I have used give the following...
1]: http://i.stack.imgur.com/i2tro.png
I have not changed any file permissions on the development PC and the database state is NOT read only....
So, the question is where do I go from here...? What have I missed.. why is it not working..?
I have managed to sort the problem.
Seemingly, the connection string I was using was OK. It was my error handling that wasnt 'clean' enough. It transpired the connection was being made on my VPS but when the application attempted to update the table , the directory I had created and put the MDF file into, would not permit write access.
I moved the MDF into the C:\Users\Public\Documents folder and all works as it should.
You have to specify the full path of the Db file with folder name/ip-address
The goal: decom the old server where TFS/SQL was originally installed, and run TFS/SQL on new server. To add insult to injury, the old server I will reference here is SBS 2011 - if you know anything about that environment, you may understand why it is slated for decom.
I performed a restoration-based move last week. While it was successful with respect to functionality, I now have what I would describe as a dual data + application tier implementation. Today, I have TFS/SQL installed on two servers, both with TFS Version: 11.0.60610.1 (Tfs2012.Update3) and SQL Version: 2008R2. Both servers in the same domain.
My curiosity lies in the behavior of the Tfs_Configuration db. I restored both the Tfs_ db as well as the Tfs_Configuration db (via .BAK files) to the new SQL server, but I still see activity happening on the old server here "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Team Foundation Server 11.0\Application Tier\Web Services_tfs_data", but no updated/recent files in the same location on the new server, suggesting the Tfs_Configuration db really did not move/restore properly.
In the TFS console on the new server, I see the URLs in the “Application Tier Summary” section referring to the old server, but the Machine Name is the new server. I also see in the "Application Tiers" section, a reference to the old server Machine name. Yet, in verifying change logs, the Tfs_ db is now resident on the new server and accepting Visual Studio commits/check-ins. There is a Tfs_Configuration db on the new server, but it seems to be the default install copy and not my restored db.
In the various guides I have read, I do understand the web.config file holds the instructional set for the catalog, etc. here "appSettings … add key="applicationDatabase" value="Data Source=instance name;Initial Catalog=Tfs_Configuration;Integrated Security=True". I was expecting to change that entry once it migrated to the new server, but rather it is still parked on the old server.
I have turned off the TFS and SQL services on the old server as a trial to see if the new installation would pick up the load, but as you might expect, TFS then goes into an unavailable state to the users.
The primary questions are:
Why did the Tfs_Configuration db not restore to the new server in the same fashion as the Tfs_ db?
How can I move that Tfs_Configuration db and turn off that old SBS 2011 unit?
Any tips or tricks are welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you.
What you did is a non trivial operation (see Move Team Foundation Server from One Hardware Configuration to Another).
Typical missing steps:
Changing URLs
Cleaning caches
Changing server ID if you want to keep both instances live
Changing accounts in case you used local user accounts
I have completed this process successfully. It required a triangulation between the three servers. The essential aspects involved solid SQL backups, coupled with the settings.xml from healthy TFS Console backups.
It was certainly a process that took a lot of planning and anticipating snags.
All-in-all, it was a great exercise in watching the data flow and understanding the roles of the configuration and collection DBs. Thank you for responding to my inquiry.
Connect to LocalDB in SSMS
Open Server Properties -> Database Settings
Change Data/Log/Backup locations -> click OK
When I click OK I get this error:
Found some blogpost and changed this in regedit but it didn't help.
Anyone got any other ideas I could try?
I do not believe that these default paths for SQL Server LocalDB are changeable. This is quite unfortunate due to what appears to be a bug with SQL Server Express 2017 LocalDB ** (fixed as of CU 6 for SQL Server 2017), as per this question (and my answer to it) on DBA.StackExchange:
LocalDB v14 creates wrong path for mdf files
HOWEVER, you do not need to use the default paths. Those are used when you create a Database without specifying the physical locations. If you specify the physical location, then you should be able to create the files to any folder / directory that you have read / write access to.
After making that change in the registry try restarting the sql instance.
Also I would make sure that the account running SQL Server has the ability to write to that folder.
for an easy test you could go to the folder properties -> security then add the account 'everyone' then give them full control. then try making that change. If it works it was a permissions issue to that account. Accounts generally don't have access to other users accounts without some level of admin.
After 10 years this is still an issue for the current version(15.0) of Microsoft SQL Server Express.
After a bit of investigation I discovered, there is an issue with permission inside the registry. The process sqlservr.exe cannot create entries in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15E.LOCALDB\MSSQLServer.
On my computer this process is running under my account, so I opened regedit and gave myself Full Control permission to this key. And it worked like a charm. I hope this will help you as well.
Changing these paths in RegEdit or SSMS doesn't work, SQL LocalDb won't respect these values for existing databases. One has to move the databases manually. Here is the reliable way to change a database location for any LocalDB instance.
First, make sure you work with a correct instance of SQL Server LocalDB. In command prompt enter:
sqllocaldb info
It will show the LocalDB instances you have on your machine. Let's assume that the instance name is MSSQLLocalDB.
Next, execute this script on your database (let's call it TestApp), using SqlCmd tool or SSMS:
alter database TestApp
modify file (name = TestApp, filename = 'C:\NewDataLocation\TestApp.mdf');
go
alter database TestApp
modify file (name = TestApp_log, filename = 'C:\NewDataLocation\TestApp_log.ldf');
go
Now, stop the SQL LocalDB instance, in command prompt:
sqllocaldb stop MSSQLLocalDB
Move the database files to the new location that you specified in the script. From %UserProfile%\TestApp.mdf (which is where they are located) to C:\NewDataLocation\TestApp.mdf, same for LDF file.
Start the SQL LocalDB instance again:
sqllocaldb start MSSQLLocalDB
Now your database is working from a new location. Repeat the steps for any other databases.
Paths Cannot Be Changed in SQL Server LocalDB "Automatic Instance" Types
In case anyone in 2023 finds out they cannot change their default database file storage paths, this article is for you!
This error applies to Microsoft SQL Server not being able to allow you to change the default file folder location on your PC where the SQL Server Database Files are saved (database and logs files, .mdf and .ldf).
Most developers often need control over where local database files are saved. Most prefer to store them in a central location, another drive, or simply the main SQL Server database repository inside the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\{sql version name}\MSSQL\DATA, since that is where system data storage goes. One example of the problem of not being able to customize database file storage might be using Entity Framework Core, which runs "migration" scripts that create databases in SQL Server. When it does so, where those scripted databases get stored is heavily dependent on SQL Server's default file path settings. When the location of those EF code-first database files using LocalDB is locked down, developers are stuck with SQL files in multiple locations on their PC's.
THE PROBLEM
Apparently, when Microsoft installs SQL Server / SQL Express on your device, it attempts to install a default instance of the server as a specialized type called a "LocalDB Automatic Instance". They do this to get the user up and running fast with a "LocalDB" sql server instance, which is a one-time, "light", custom created server running as a public instance, complete with default settings which are customized for the user (or developer) so he can get up and running fast. The automatic type has the advantage that its granted permissions to the user as administrator in SQL, as well as granting all applications on the user's device public access to the server instance. (You will notice that IIsExpress works this way using ApplicationPools as dummy Windows User Accounts, creating default accounts next to your User Account in Windows to run app pools in IIS.) These SQL Server LocalDB binaries do not run as a service but on-demand. But only one of the "automatic" types may be installed per version per device. The other SQL Server LocalDB type is the named instance and is not as restricted as the automatic one, apparently.
The problem is, when they create this special LocalDB automatic instance, it locks down certain settings and applies certain permissions and settings that are unique just for this instance. This then limits what the user can do as far as customizations, one of which is the "Database default locations" in the Properties dialog box that appears when you right-click your sql server instance and choose properties.
Anyone using the full SQL Server version, or who has created a new instance of LocalDB, deleting the old one, will not experience this issue, so most of those people are scratching their heads.
But for local developers, what this means is your Sql Server LocalDB databases running under this instance of the server will typically store their databases under a locked down path...either the path you chose on install or default to the user-friendly account paths under C:\Users\{YourName}.
When users attempt to change the path in the properties box for the instance, many users online the past 5-6 years have noticed a nasty RegCreateKeyEx() returned error 5 Access is denied that would appear when saving a default path. Microsoft doesn't bother to tell you, but that is intentional. They don't expect to allow you to save paths to the registry for the instance, and assume everyone is ok with the default path.
You can fix the key error by going into your registry and changing permission on the Microsoft SQL Server registry keys, assigning the "Everyone" group account to the registry node managing these keys. In the Registry, add Everyone group account to this node below then try and save a new default path in the properties box for your sql server localdb instance:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server
The location of the default database file path keys (2019) in the Registry in Windows for an instance of the localdb server of are located here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15E.LOCALDB\MSSQLServer
You are then able to save the new default paths in SQL, and the error goes away. Saving your default path in the Properties box works now, and the new values appear in the registry.
Even though you can change these paths, they will not stick, however, and reset back to the User Account Path, by default. Even if you save a new default sql path for your databases, when you create a new database it still reverts to the old path. Again, this applies ONLY for users who are running under the default "Automatic" LocalDB instance created on install of SQL Express.
So even after restarting SQL, restarting your PC, or restarting the SQL Service, those registry values will still not pull the registry keys into the SQL Server instance settings for Default file paths.
As proof, run these two scripts below in your SQL Server LocalDB instance. The first one returns the actual LocalDB default file paths SQL Server stores internally. The second script returns what is stored in your registry for the LocalDB default file path. If you saved new default path registry keys, they should be the same and shown in SQL Server instance properties, but they are different! That means Microsoft has decided not to allow you to change them for those running the "automatic" instance type of LocalDB on install. Below is the T-SQL to run to test this:
-- GETS THE PATH STORED IN SQL SERVER FOR "DefaultData" path
SELECT
[Value] = 'DefaultData',
[Data] = SERVERPROPERTY('InstanceDefaultDataPath')
-- DefaultData C:\Users\YourAccountName\
-- GETS WHATS IN THE REGISTRY FOR "DefaultData" path
EXECUTE [master].dbo.xp_instance_regread
N'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE',
N'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLServer',
N'DefaultData'
-- DefaultData C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA
-- Note: If the second one returns `NULL` it just means you
-- have not yet tried or succeeded in saving a new file path
-- to your registry.
Why isnt SQL Server LocalDB pulling in the registry values?
What this means again, is sorry you can't change these default paths. Your best bet is to simple "detach" your databases, copy the .mdf and .ldf files to your new prefered folder, then reattach. When you create new databases, the console allows you to change the database file path there, as well. There are also some elaborate SQL scripts you can run to set paths before saving files.
But just know this is by design.
I think one of the purposes of LocalDB is that it is very convinient in bundling a demo database along with the source files of an application. The database file and its log, of course, are somewhere in the source file directory.
Take a Visual Studio solution for example, in web.config or app.config, you can see something like this:
<connectionStrings>
<add name="DefaultConnection" connectionString="Data Source=(LocalDb)\v11.0;Initial Catalog=aspnet-XXXXXX-20140609153630;Integrated Security=SSPI;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|\aspnet-XXXXXX-20140609153630.mdf" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
Now that the location of every LocalDB is specified in the config file, I don't think "default location" makes much sense.
I have created a database emailDatabase, its stored in
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA
In Visual Studio, I use the Server Explorer, click the add new connection button.
The add connection dialog box appears.
Under server name I use the dropdown box and select DEV-5\SQLEXPRESS. I use Windows authentication.
In the Connect to section at the bottom, the dropdown displays: Master, Model, msdb and tempdb and does not display my emailDatabase.
So I select Attach Database File and click browse and follow
local C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA
and select my email database.
The following error occurs :
emailDatabase
You don not have permission to open this file.
Contact file owner or an administrator to obtain permission.
I think my problem is i saved my database wrong, I need to make a back up or something like that. if that's the case please tel me how to make a backup and so on. I really need to move forward from this problem.
When I created my database I right-clicked on databases in SQL Server Management Studio and said new database, then I added columns with a query. then file save all.
How can I get a copy of my database file with all the permissions I need to use it in visual Studio??
When you create a database on the server (using SQL Server Management Studio), you don't have to (and should not!) fiddle around with the database file(s) anymore - let the server handle that for you.
Instead: do a Add Connection in Visual Studio and then specify the server instance (DEV-5\SQLEXPRESS) and the database name (emailDatabase) in your connection dialog.
With this, you're connecting and using a SQL Server database the way it's intended to be used - on the SQL Server instance itself. This is much easier, and much less hassle, than having to struggle with "free-floating" .mdf files and attaching them to your solutions and stuff like that....
So here - fill in DEV-5\SQLEXPRESS into your "Server name" dropdown, and then use the "Select or enter database name" option and enter your database name (or pick it from the dropdown) - it should be there!
DO NOT use the "Attach a database file" option - this is the free-floating .mdf "feature" which is rather clumsy and hard to use and error-prone - again: I recommend not using that...
Had the same problem and I realised the problem was not in VS2010 but my SQLserver.My instance name is OMAFANO ,and that's what my MSSQL connected to under Server Name. Now here's the catch,click on that and connect to OMAFANO\SQLEXPRESS and create all your databases and tables there if you want them to show up in VS2010 the way u stated up there. So under server name in VS2010 also write INSTANCENAME\SQLEXPRESS if you want to see your newly created databases etc. Take a look at the picture:
I thought I had it figured out but problems continue to pop up. So ...
IGNORE EVERYTHING BELOW THIS LINE.
After hours of tinkering I finally figured out how to use SSMS to connect to a SQLServer 2008 database that was created in VS2010, and it is relatively simple. But from the number of unanswered questions all over the place not well documented. Here's how to do it:
In VS right click the project in SolutionExplorer and select Add new item then select Data then SQLServer database. It will prompt you to save it in the app_data folder and create the folder for you if it doesn't exist.
Find the Ssms.exe file (on my system it's in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE
Right click Ssms.exe and select Run as administrator.
After SSMS opens you can attach the project MDF. It will now be on your list of databases. The database name is a GUID.
You can even run aspnet_regsql against the database to add the Membership tables and sprocs.
IMPORTANT! You can manage this database with EITHER SMSS OR VS but not both at the same time. If you mess with the database from within VS using ServerExplorer you will break the SSMS connection. To fix that you will need to detach and reattach the database.
Run Your Visual studio As Administrator
Go to Visual Studio instance i.e C#,C++ etc
Right click > Run as Administrator
Then now It may work
To connect to a ssms2014 database from visual studio 2013, in the new connection wizard I had to change 'data source' from 'ms sql server database file' to '.net framework data provider for sql server..'. Then I was able to enter [computer name][username] for windows authentication.
I had the same issue, you just type your local server name "sara-PC" instead of
"sara-PC\SQLEXPRESS"
Now you can access your database easily, you can see it in your dropdownlist.
And also please dont use file access method to attatch database, thats not good way.
Also you can put ~....\Data and ~...\log file wherever you want by setting default location using server->rightclick->properties->Database settings.
Definitely this solves your issue.
I'm running the copy database wizard on a 2008 R2 instance of SQL Server.
The database I want to copy is a SQL 2000 database.
I'm copy that database to another SQL SErver 2008 R2.
The wizard uses SQL authentication for both servers, and both are sysadmins.
When I run it, I get the following error (FYI I have tried both copying the logins and leaving them out):
Event Name: OnError
Message: ERROR : errorCode=-1073548784 description=Executing the query "sys.sp_addrolemember #rolename = N'RandomRoleName..." failed with the following error: "The role 'RandomRoleName' does not exist in the current database.". Possible failure reasons: Problems with the query, "ResultSet" property not set correctly, parameters not set correctly, or connection not established correctly.
helpFile= helpContext=0 idofInterfaceWithError={C81DFC5A-3B22-4DA3-BD3B-10BF861A7F9C}
StackTrace: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Dts.DtsTransferProvider.ExecuteTransfer()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Transfer.TransferData()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Tasks.TransferObjectsTask.TransferObjectsTask.TransferDatabasesUsingSMOTransfer()
Any help would be appreciated!
Jim
My suggestion is dont use the copy database wizard. Create a full backup of the database on the 2000 server and then restore it on the 2008 server.
If you google "Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Dts.DtsTransferProvider.ExecuteTransfer Copy Database Wizard" you will find that many many people have gotten this same error or other nearly identical smo errors... no-one appears to have gotten past it.
That's isn't to say its impossible... just, restoring a backup is so much easier then the wizard or troubleshooting the wizard. Good luck.
The copy wizard had missed some security and IIRC it's caused by subtle differences in security tables, principals etc between the 2 versions.
Frankly, the easiest way is to do one of these two:
backup/restore
detach, copy, attach
If you don't have access to the O/S and can't get it, another option is to create the missing role(s) in the background as the copy runs. You have to catch it between the creation of the files and when it tries to reference the roles, but there are a few seconds in which to create them if you keep clicking execute - I managed to create 9 roles.
Unfortunately, you'll end up with the roles in another database too (while yours cannot be used) so those need to be deleted.
Of course, this is only an option when you really can't use the other method.
Though the answer which is using the backup technique solves the problem generally, after facing the same issue several times, I was able to trace down the root of the problem using the Event Viewer of Windows to that the Database Copy wizard, using the SQL Agent, will eventually create a Job for the agent to run, after which the Agent will run using its own credentials (i.e. the credentials that you can look up in Windows Services, in my case, NT Service\SQLAgent$SQL2014)
All you need to do is to go the folder where SQL Server creates DB files (e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL12.SQL2014\MSSQL\DATA by default for SQL 2014) and give the SQL Agent windows user write/read access on the folder.
The reason can be that a file with the new Database name already exist on the filesystem. We encountered this when we renamed Database X to X_Old, and tried to copy database Y to X. This cannot be done, because database X_Old is still associated with the filename X.
Either delete the conflicting database, or rename the file on the file system.
See http://codecopy.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/error-while-copying-a-database/