VS 2010 and Entity Framework: accessing SQL Server 2000 databases

Question

Consider a Visual Studio 2010 project whose requirement is to model the data using Entity Framework. The datasource is a SQL Server 2000 database.

The first step is creating a new ADO.NET Entity Data Model item.

The Entity Data Model Wizard prompts for a Data Connection.

When creating a new Connection, you will need to use a provider other than SqlClient. Usually it's SQLOLEDB.

The list of data providers only has SqlClient or ".NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server".

• Is there a work-around for Visual Studio 2010 to create or use data connections to SQL Server 2000 using the Entity Framework?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, SQL Server 2000 isn't supported.

Entity Framework v2

Answer 2

Hi, I'm trying to create Linq to Entities for DB2. I've already installed DB2 client 9.7. In VS2008, we select 'others' under "Data Providers", we get "IBM DB2 for IDS, UDB...". But in VS2010 it only shows SQL server related providers. We are unable to see any other provider. But I created my own program which shows Microsoft Connection UI. In that i'm able to see all providers in the same PC. So apparently VS2010 is not able to show installed "Data Providers" while creating Ado.NET Entity data model. This is stopping us to use VS2010 to create EDMX for DB2 projects. If not DB2, we are not able to create for Oracle, MySQL, etc. Only available provider is "MS SQL Server"!!! Kindly help.

Regards Venkat