PHP Sql Server PDOException:could not find driver

Question

My server is a Windows 2008 server. PHP Version 7.2.7 is installed and running. Sql Server 11 (64 bit) is installed and is working (there is a couple asp.net apps running and already using that database)

I downloaded the PHP Sql Server Drivers from Microsofts website and placed the .dll files in the PHP ext directory.

In my PHP.ini I added:extension=php_pdo_sqlsrv_7_nts_x64

In my .php file I am using to test my db connection I have:

 $SqlServer = "THISSERVER\SQLEXPRESS";
 $SqlServerCon = new PDO("sqlsrv:server=$SqlServer;Database=TheDatabase", "DbUName", "DbPassword"); 
if (!$SqlServerCon) {die('Unable To Connect to Sql Server');}
else
{echo "Connection Successful";}

I am getting: PHP Fatal error: Uncaught PDOException: could not find driver in D:\Inetpub\wwwroot\TechStory2\DBtest.php:7 (Line 7 is the $SqlServerCon line).

What did I do wrong? and What do I need to do to get a connection to Sql Server?

i think you need to put the .dll at the end of the extension name in your ini. remember to restart the web server after you change this. — delboy1978uk
What @delboy1978uk said. On Windows we will assume you did not compile from source and the PDO extension (php_pdo.dll) is built into your binary. If not, make sure it is loaded before SQLSRV. — ficuscr

Soren Soren · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-25T15:30:23

I got it figured out. I had to install the ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server (msodbcsql_17.2.0.1_x64.msi) on my server. The SQL Server Native Client 11.0 was installed but not the ODBC Driver for SQL Server.

For future reference for anyone else with this or a similar issue...

It can be downloaded at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=56567 (note: if you have a 32 bit server, you will want to install the msodbcsql_17.2.0.1_x86.msi - If you accidentally try to install the incorrect version, it will let you know during the installation). After the driver is installed, you need to reboot the server. It won't prompt you to restart, but you'll need to.

In my PHP.ini I have added extension=php_pdo_sqlsrv_72_nts.dll and extension=php_sqlsrv_72_nts_x64.dll They can be downloaded at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/php/system-requirements-for-the-php-sql-driver?view=sql-server-2017

More info can be found at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/php/loading-the-php-sql-driver?view=sql-server-2017 and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/php/system-requirements-for-the-php-sql-driver?view=sql-server-2017

I can now establish a connection to Sql Server using either sqlsrv_connect or PDO.

PDO connection test:

$SqlServer = "THISSERVER\SQLEXPRESS";
$SqlServerCon = new PDO("sqlsrv:server=$SqlServer;Database=TheDatabase", "DbUName", "DbPassword"); 
if (!$SqlServerCon) {die('Unable To Connect to Sql Server');}
else
{echo "Connection Successful";}

sqlsrv_connect connection test:

$SqlServer = "THISSERVER\SQLEXPRESS";
$DbConnInfo = array( "Database"=>"TheDatabase", "UID"=>"DbUName", "PWD"=>"DbPassword");
$SqlServerCon = sqlsrv_connect( $SqlServer, $DbConnInfo);
if( $SqlServerCon ) {echo "Connection established";}
else
{echo "Connection could not be established.<br />";
die( print_r( sqlsrv_errors(), true));}

PHP Sql Server PDOException:could not find driver

2 Answers