[QUESTION] How to use an external SQL Server machine?

[larsontim12]

Would it be possible to have this not use the docker SQL server database and have it point to an existing one? I am trying to have it point to an existing 2014 SQL Server and each service comes up on its own and works fine but I can't get the docker solution to run it keeps saying that it can't find the sqlserver. I changed all of the connection strings to point to the SQL Server in the docker file but still no luck. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

[eiximenis]

Hi!
You need to change the connection strings in the docker compose files.
Look at the file "docker-compose.override.yml" file and you'll see something like:

catalog.api:
    environment:
      - ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT=Development
      - ASPNETCORE_URLS=http://0.0.0.0:5101
      - ConnectionString=Server=sql.data;Database=Microsoft.eShopOnContainers.Services.CatalogDb;User Id=sa;Password=Pass@word

[larsontim12]

I tried that and it hasn't worked. In the connection string I changed sql.data to servername\SQLEXPRESS along with the database userid and password. It still says it can not find the database. I don't know if it is because it is running in a unix container and the SQL server is on my local.

[andrelmp]

Open SQL ports on your firewall, enable TCP connections then update connection string to server=tcp:10.0.75.1\sqlexpress

[CESARDELATORRE]

Also, if you don't want to use an IP but a server name, you can add this convenient entry at the Docker Compose override file, pointing to the external server (your dev machine or any SQL Server):
docker-compose.override.yml

...
ordering.api:
...
   extra_hosts:
         - "CESARDLSURFBOOK:10.0.75.1"

Then, you could use that server name in the connection string instead of the IP.