ODBC connection for client application to SQL Server 2005 Express installed on network computer

Hi All,

I've developed an application that connects to a SQL Server 2005 Express database. I created a DSN to connect to the database through ODBC. Currently, I am testing locally and everything works fine.

I would now like to install my application on another workstation and connect remotely to the database located on my development machine.

The client workstation does not have SQL Server 2005 Express installed on it because I would just like my application to connect remotely by creating the DSN and using ODBC. What I'm missing here are the database drivers. The "SQL Natice Client" is not available on this client workstation. How can I deploy the necessary drivers with my installation file so that I may create the required DSN name using the SQL Native Client driver?

Thanks!
Deployment of the SNAC can be found here:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms131334.aspx

If you don′t use the new features of SQL Server 2005, you can also use the MDAC driver which is compatible with the Pre SQL 2005 features of SQL Server 2005.

My best practice is not to use the DSN rather than using direct connection strings which can be configured in configuration files.

HTH, Jens SUessmeyer.

http://www.sqlserver2005.de
|||Thanks for the reply.

I can't seem to find the sqlncli.msi file on my drive. I have the Express edition installed. Is there somewhere else I can find this installer for the SNAC driver?

If not, which version of MDAC do I need, and how would I build my DSN? I agree with using connection strings instead of DSN's, unfortunately that is a decision I'm unable to change.

|||

SNAC: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=d09c1d60-a13c-4479-9b91-9e8b9d835cdc
it

Just get the newest MDAC, since it makes no difference if you get 2.7 or 2.8 but getting the newest will keep you away from old bugs :-)

The connectionstrings can be found on www.connectionstring.com (Where I also posted an example for the SNAC one :-) )

HTH, Jens Suessmeyer.

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

|||Excellent,

I got it working using MDAC.

Thanks!