How to connect to SQL Server 2012 from vb.net -

How to connect to SQL Server 2012 from vb.net -

i've looked through web improve part of 2 days trying find how connect sql server 2012 came vs express 2013 desktop.

based on things found on various sites, in connection string (starting "") i've tried

server=.\mssqlexpress;database=brightstar;user=root;password=root

then

.(local)\mssqlexpress

and

.(localhost)\mssqlexpress)

as combinations without "ms" (just sqlexpress).

nothing works far.

the error message

a network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing connection sql server. server not found or not accessible. verify instance name right , sql server configured allow remote connections. (provider: sql network interfaces, error: 26 - error locating server/instance specified)

so question is, instance name of sql server comes packaged version of visual studio? also, haven't gotten "user" , "password" parameters, help welcome there, too. (i guessing @ "root".)

if there's other info can provide helpful, please ask.

thanks.

(btw, sql anywhere?)

if have normal installation without changes, have sql server express instance name of sqlexpress.

so can connect either using

.\sqlexpress

or

(local)\sqlexpress

or

your-machine-name\sqlexpress

(or ip, if want to)

the . or (local) (or localhost, if insist) stand local machine , \sqlexpress default instance name sql server express installation.

with sql server 2012 , newer, localdb feature - learn more localdb here

to connect instance, you'd use

(localdb)\v11.0

as server/instance name (or (localdb)\v12.0 sql server 2014 localdb)

for great intro sql server 2012 localdb, see aaron bertrand's article getting started sql server 2012 express localdb

sql-server vb.net visual-studio-2013