SNI.dll

wjvii

I am using the Microsoft.Data.SqlClient and it needs SNI.dll for the proper platform. I am using the Micorosoft.Data.SqlClient NuGet package in LINQPad but whenever I run a query in LINQPad it tells me it cannot find the SNI.dll with something like:

Failed to load C:\Users\wjvii\AppData\Local\Temp\LINQPad5_suxutjro\shadow_anolsn\x86\SNI.dll

I am not sure where to put the sni.dll so that LINQPad can find it, does someone know?

Thank you in advance.

JoeAlbahari

I take it you're using LINQPad 5? If so, that library relies on MSBuild, so it won't work with LINQPad. I don't know why Microsoft have designed it in this way, because it prevents tools such as LINQPad from using it.

I could write a hack to make this particular library work, but it will be distributed in a beta build that won't go RTM for a few months.

In terms of a workaround, you could try copying the X86 SNI.dll from the following folder:

%localappdata%\LINQPad\NuGet.FW46\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.1.1.0\build\net46\x86

into the folder where LINQPad.exe lives.

wjvii

Thank you for the feedback. I agree, I really dislike these native dependencies and how they get used and deployed. I will try some of the suggestions and put the details of the outcome in this discussion when I am done.

tavares

Hi, I have LinqPad 5 and tried to put SNI.dll in the LinqPad folder and does not work.
There is another workaround to fix this issue?
I have many scripts with app.config and it’s not possible to use LinqPad 6, and cannot use Ef core 3.1

Thanks

JoeAlbahari

I'll take a look at it, but it's tricky because the SqlClient library hard-codes where it expects the sni.dll file to be.

A workaround is to add the following class to My Extensions:

public static class Fix
{
    public static void SNI<T>()
    {
        // LINQPad knows where sni.dll is and automatically adds the right version
        // (x86 or x64) to the environment %PATH%. This is enough to make most
        // native libraries work, but not Microsoft.Data.SqlClient. So we must copy
        // it to a location that's relative to Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll.
        if (!FindInPath ("sni.dll", out var sniPath))
            throw new FileNotFoundException (
               @"Unable to find sni.dll in %PATH%.
Ensure that you're referenced the Microsoft.Data.SqlClient NuGet package.");

        sniPath.DumpTrace ("SNI Path");

        string targetFolder = Path.Combine (
            Path.GetDirectoryName (typeof (T).Assembly.Location),
            (IntPtr.Size == 4 ? "x86" : "x64"));

        if (!Directory.Exists (targetFolder)) Directory.CreateDirectory (targetFolder);

        string targetFile = Path.Combine (targetFolder, "sni.dll");
        if (!File.Exists (targetFile)) File.Copy (sniPath, targetFile);

        targetFile.DumpTrace ("SNI target path");
    }

    [DllImport ("shlwapi.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = false)]
    static extern bool PathFindOnPath ([MarshalAs (UnmanagedType.LPTStr)] StringBuilder pszFile, IntPtr unused);

    static bool FindInPath (String pszFile, out String fullPath)
    {
        const int MAX_PATH = 260;
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder (pszFile, MAX_PATH);
        bool found = PathFindOnPath (sb, IntPtr.Zero);
        fullPath = found ? sb.ToString() : null;
        return found;
    }
}

Note that My Extensions will not need a reference to Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.

Then, from the query that references Microsoft.Data.SqlClient, call this:

Fix.SNI<Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection>();

You will need to call this method only once after downloading the Microsoft.Data.SqlClient NuGet package. However, should you update the Microsoft.Data.SqlClient package (i.e., download a later version), you will need to call the method again. (There's no harm in keeping the call to Fix.SNI in there permanently if you like.)

tavares

It's working.

Thank your very much .

MrFlibble

Thank you so much @JoeAlbahari ! This was such a nightmare to diagnose and you've saved the day!!

topi

The copy from C:\Users\XXXXXX\AppData\Local\LINQPad\NuGet.FW46\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.2.1.1\build\net46 to the location of LINQPad.exe worked for me, thanks Joe!

mldisibio

Sorry, after digging in extensively, I realized what I was posting to this thread was a related but separate issue and I moved it to a new discussion.