I want to know how to find the server and instance name on my computer to connect to the server.
I am using the SQLCMD utility, and I am currently able to connect to the server with the line
>SQLCMD -S "(localdb)\mssqllocaldb"
I want to know if the server and instance name, "(localdb)\mssqllocaldb", is information that is listed anywhere I can access on my computer.
I'm trying to configure another computer to connect its own local server in the same way I am able to connect to (localdb)\mssqllocaldb, and I want to know what "(localdb)\mssqllocaldb" should be on their computer so that they can connect to it with SQLCMD.
Best Answer
If you're really using LocalDB and haven't just named a regular SQL Server instance as if you were, there are definitely some extra hurdles in establishing connectivity from remote machines. This feature is targeted primarily at local, isolated development.
I wrote a pretty lengthy article on LocalDB, including how to get over some of the connectivity hurdles, in this tip (and there is likely some valuable information in some of the comments, too):
More recently, I added a tip to handle a more modern version, which I highly recommend if for no other reason that most of the connectivity hurdles have been reduced or eliminated:
I would strongly recommend installing a proper instance of SQL Server (even if only the Express Edition), which can be set to always be running (no matter who is or isn't logged into the machine), does not have any of these additional connectivity hurdles, etc.