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Shared Memory Provider: The parameter is incorrect

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You will get this error message if you try to connect to a SQL Server 2000 database from Whidbey (either an app or the Server Explorer in the IDE) using a dot or (local) as the server name (i.e. data source=. in connection string).
This works in previous versions of .NET. I have no idea why it doesn't work anymore. You have to replace it with localhost.

3 Comments

  • It's working fine for me:

    Server=.;Integrated Security=True;Database=ACS



    I think using "localhost" instead of "." or "(local)" uses TCP/IP instead of Shared memory...

  • Maybe it works because you're connecting to a Yukon database instead?

  • This happens on my machine also, but as soon as I go to the SQl Server "Client Network Utility" and check "Enable shared memory protocol" check box, ADO.NET is very happy with using shared memory when it is "local", which makes sense. I had turned off that option before because of another problem that it caused.

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