Which version of SQL Server supports.Net framework 4.5? - sql-server

Question

I am new to .NET technology and I am using Visual Studio 2012 and .net framework 4.5. I tried SQL Server 2008 but I'm unable to connect to it with server name . and .\SQLEXPRESS.
Which version of SQL Server should I install for database access and please provide the link for same?

Answer 1

VS.NET 2012 ships with SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDb. If you use LocalDb and its file is located in App_Data\DatabaseFileName.mdf then you could connect using
<add name="ConnectionStringName"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"
connectionString="Data Source=(LocalDB)\v11.0;AttachDbFileName=|DataDirectory|\DatabaseFileName.mdf;InitialCatalog=DatabaseName;Integrated Security=True" />
To see what database is in use you can either from VS.NET or using SQL Server Management Studio
If you use other database, e.g. SQL Server 2008, you need to make sure that
name of the server and the SQL Server instance
server is up and running
You can use ".", "(local)", or "localhost" in place of the server name to specify the local computer, but you need to make sure that server is there.
Open SQL Server Management Studio, Connect to Server and see the name of the server and its authentication type. If it is a Windows Authentication you can use Integrated Security=True in the connection string.
Example:
using System.Data.SqlClient;
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string connectionString = #"Data Source=\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=DBNAME_HERE;Integrated Security=True";
using (SqlConnection objSqlConnection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
try {
objSqlConnection.Open();
objSqlConnection.Close();
Response.Write("Connection is successfull");
} catch (Exception ex) {
Response.Write("Error : " + ex.Message.ToString());
}
}
}
Reed more here.

Answer 2

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express have the following limitations:
Maximum database size 10GB
Maximum usage of Ram 1GB
Single physical CPU
No SQL Server Agent (job scheduler)
Profiler tool is not included
Also, your connection string should be something like this:
Server=.\SQLExpress;AttachDbFilename=C:\MyFolder\MyDataFile.mdf;Database=dbname;
Trusted_Connection=Yes;