Is it possible to test my site locally but use remote connection strings?

I need to run some tests involving freetext but using the online database on the remote server. Is this possible?

I could make a new site and upload to that to test or purchase sql2005 with full text search facillities and test the code on that but both are not idea.

Any ideas?

The error code I get when running on the local host using the remote connection strings is:

An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

Jez,

yep this is entirely possible and the connection string is literally the same string that you use remotely. as an example, here's the one that i use for a site for my originaltalent database from my local machine:

    <connectionStrings>
        <remove name="OriginalLocalSqlServer"/>

        <add name="OriginalLocalSqlServer" connectionString="Server=sql381.mysite4now.com;Dat abase=originaltalent;uid=accountuserid;pwd=account password;" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
    </connectionStrings>

if i need to use the local installation, i just remove the comment lines on the 1st entry and comment out the 'remote' line.

this works 100% for me but i suppose it will depend on your hosting provider regarding incoming connections etc...



jimi

http://www.originaltalent.com

Thanks for the quick response.

I have tried using my remote string. As you stated maybe my hosts don't allow access to it. This seems odd as I can access the remote database via my sqlexpress using the same log in.
I have play with it and see it the hosts can help, if not its time to test online which is a bit of a hassle. Wish I had the full sql2005.

Hi Jimi,

Solved it!!

I had a look at your connection string and relised I didn't have the full path to the online database! anyway, I'm grateful for your response and happy that i can now test my code and stored procedures to my hearts content.

:D

Jez,

glad you got it sorted. it's usually a dotting the i's crossing the t's type thing :)