How to connect MSSQL in Laravel homestead? - sql-server

Question

I am trying to connect with a MSSQL database using laravel homestead. It always throws the exception:
PDOException in Connector.php line 55: could not find driver.
I've seen a lot of people talking about FreeTDS and Sybase drivers, but I can't seem to figure out what I need to enable laravel/php access to MSSQL databases from a Linux Web Server running the Laravel Homestead Vagrant box.

Answer 1

I did lots of R&D for resolving this issue. Finally found the solution:
Laravel vagrant is using php 7. For mssql support we have to enable the relevant sybase driver for linux :
To Enable MSSQL Support for PHP 7:
First, ssh into your box vagrant ssh from the Homestead folder.
Command : vagrant ssh
Install the Sybase package for enabling the support for PDO and Mssql.
Command : sudo apt-get install php7.0-sybase
then run php -m on the ssh to make sure pdo_dblib is enabled.
All Done!!!! Cheers

Answer 2

The following works for php72. You may try changing the version of php in the commands.
vagrant ssh
#set the default PHP version to 7.2
php72
sudo su
curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | apt-key add -
#Download appropriate package for the OS version
#Choose only ONE of the following, corresponding to your OS version
#Ubuntu 16.04
curl https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/16.04/prod.list > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mssql-release.list
#Ubuntu 18.04
curl https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/18.04/prod.list > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mssql-release.list
#Ubuntu 20.04
curl https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/20.04/prod.list > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mssql-release.list
exit
sudo apt-get update
sudo ACCEPT_EULA=Y apt-get install msodbcsql17
sudo ACCEPT_EULA=Y apt-get install mssql-tools
echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/opt/mssql-tools/bin"' >> ~/.bash_profile
echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/opt/mssql-tools/bin"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
sudo apt-get install unixodbc-dev
sudo pecl config-set php_ini /etc/php/7.2/fpm/php.ini
sudo pecl install sqlsrv
sudo pecl install pdo_sqlsrv
sudo su
printf "; priority=20\nextension=sqlsrv.so\n" > /etc/php/7.2/mods-available/sqlsrv.ini
printf "; priority=30\nextension=pdo_sqlsrv.so\n" > /etc/php/7.2/mods-available/pdo_sqlsrv.ini
exit
sudo phpenmod -v 7.2 sqlsrv pdo_sqlsrv
sudo systemctl restart php7.2-fpm
# restart nginx, if needed:
sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
References:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/linux-mac/installing-the-microsoft-odbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15#ubuntu17
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/php/installation-tutorial-linux-mac?view=sql-server-ver15#installing-the-drivers-on-ubuntu-1604-1804-and-2004

Answer 3

Laravel uses PDO extension to connect to database, you could check if the extension is enabled using
var_dump(class_exists('PDO'))
Also, if you could post the specific error, it would be great.

Answer 4

Thanks for this. Still works as of now with:
php7.2-sybase
using DB_HOST= IP_ADDRESS\NAMED_INSTANCE
Commenting out the PORT directive in both .env and database.php