SQL Server Express in a shared hosting environment I have created an ASP.NET project in Visual Studio. The database is a SQL Server Express database TestDB.mdf. I uploaded this with .ldf file to the standard App_Data directory but the connection string doesn't seem to work. How can I use this SQL Server Express database in a shared hosting environment?

My Connection String is:

Data Source=.\\SQLEXPRESS;
Initial Catalog=C:\\inetpub\\dir1\\dir2\\docs\\App_Data\\Test.mdf;
Integrated Security=SSPI;
Connect Timeout=120";


It gives always the same error:


  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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)
Most hosting companies are going to want you to connect to a database server. Having the database on the web server is more for development ease, not for production.