Razor core app connects to DB, but integration test fails with Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlException

Walter 1

I have an app that I've been writing and its working well. When I introduced an integration test, its unable to connect to the DB using the exact same connection string.

Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: 'A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SNI_PN11, error: 50 - Local Database Runtime error occurred. Specified LocalDB instance name is invalid.)'

The integration test has the same nuget packages plus some test packages. Its not a network error because its all on my local development machine. I also tried another machine and get the same error, so its not that something that needs to be reinstalled.

Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2022 (64-bit) - Current - Version 17.11.2

Microsoft SQL Server 2019 LocalDB - 15.0.4153.1

I have no idea what else to look for to resolve this. Please help

Erland Sommarskog 111.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-09-28T16:07:53.14+00:00

And the integration test runs on the same machine as where the app is working well?

The error message is clear: this means that the instance you are trying to connect to was not reachable. In this particular case, it seems that this is due to that you are trying to connect to an instance of LocalDB which does not exist. This is why I asked if the integration test runs on the same machine as you were running before; that could explain why the instance is missing.

The other alternative would be that the integration test overrides the connection string you think you have.

I should add that I answer from the SQL Server side of things. I don't know anything about Razor, and I am very dim about Visual Studio.
Walter 1 Reputation point

2024-09-28T16:21:56.68+00:00

its running on the same machine. I even tried another machine with its own LocalDB and got the same results. I suspect something in the visual studio project configuration for the integration test is the cause of this failure. I am able to browse the DB from Visual Studio's "SQL Server Object Explorer"

1 answer

LucyChenMSFT-4874 4,750 Reputation points

2024-09-29T08:27:12.1733333+00:00

Hi @Walter,

Thank you for your reaching out and welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

There could be several reasons for this error, and it would be helpful to gather more information to help troubleshoot the issue.

Please refer to A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection and follow the steps in it to SQL Server to take a check!

I hope this helps! If you have any more issues or need further assistance, feel free to share with us!

Best regards,

Lucy Chen

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Walter 1 Reputation point

2024-09-29T13:35:27.2033333+00:00

I thought my comments about the testing would have made it obvious that its a local development environment that works in the application but fails in the integration test. The link you provided is for testing the network connection which is not applicable in a local dev environment. I had previously followed that guide attempting everything that made sense and no luck in finding out why. The connection works perfectly in the application and in Visual Studio's "SQL Server Object Browser", but not in the integration test with identical connection strings.

Walter 1 Reputation point

2024-10-01T19:59:01.9133333+00:00

This answer doesn't make sense. I've already stated that I can connect to the database using SQL Server Object Explorer and the app under development can connect without any issues. Its only the integration test that's failing to connect. It can't be a network issue, a firewall issue or a connection string error. I had previously validated all of the steps in the document you are referring to.

Erland Sommarskog 111.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-10-01T21:28:59.7933333+00:00

Please note that both I and Lucy know more about SQL Server than Visual Studio. So when you say "integration test", I am afraid, I don't know much what that implies. But it seems that the integration test is playing around with your connection string.

Walter 1 Reputation point

2024-10-01T23:13:42.09+00:00

Is there a way to get someone from the Visual Studio side to take a look at this issue? Here is a link to Microsoft's description of integration tests: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/test/integration-tests?view=aspnetcore-8.0

Erland Sommarskog 111.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-10-02T12:23:44.3133333+00:00

Maybe asking a new question without SQL Server among the tags? :--) Then you don't get us "helpful" SQL Server people involved?
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Razor core app connects to DB, but integration test fails with Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlException

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