Question

I need to determine the version of SQL Server (2000, 2005 or 2008 in this particular case) that a connection string connects a C# console application (.NET 2.0). Can anyone provide any guidance on this?

Thanks, MagicAndi

Update

I would like to be able to determine the SQL Server version form the ADO.NET connection object if possible.

Answer 1

This code will determine the version of SQL Server database being used – 2000, 2005 or 2008:

try
{
    SqlConnection sqlConnection = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
    Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server server = new Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server(new Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection(sqlConnection));

    switch (server.Information.Version.Major)
    {
      case 8:
        MessageBox.Show("SQL Server 2000");
        break;
      case 9:
        MessageBox.Show("SQL Server 2005");
        break;
      case 10:
        MessageBox.Show("SQL Server 2008");
                break;
      default:
        MessageBox.Show(string.Format("SQL Server {0}", server.Information.Version.Major.ToString())); 
        break;   
    }
}
catch (Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ConnectionFailureException)
{
    MessageBox.Show("Unable to connect to server",
        "Invalid Server", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

}

The code below will do the same, this time using NinthSense’s answer:

try
{       
    SqlConnection sqlConnection = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
    sqlConnection.Open();

    string serverVersion = sqlConnection.ServerVersion;
    string[] serverVersionDetails = serverVersion.Split( new string[] {"."}, StringSplitOptions.None);

    int versionNumber = int.Parse(serverVersionDetails[0]);

    switch (versionNumber)
    {
        case 8:
            MessageBox.Show("SQL Server 2000");
            break;
        case 9:
            MessageBox.Show("SQL Server 2005");
            break;
        case 10:
            MessageBox.Show("SQL Server 2008");
            break;
        default:
            MessageBox.Show(string.Format("SQL Server {0}", versionNumber.ToString()));  
            break;  
    }
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    MessageBox.Show(string.Format("Unable to connect to server due to exception: {1}", ex.Message),
        "Invalid Connection!", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

}
finally
{
    sqlConnection.Close();
}