Setting up Laravel with SQL Server AND Laragon on Windows

I just want to share how I connect my laravel project with sqlserver.

I assume that you already have Laragon and SQL Server in your local system.

Step 1. Download the PHP driver here

• Go to the bottom of the page then download windows-8.1.zip (since I'm using PHP 8.1
• Extract the zip file to a folder, then go to folder named x64, you will see the following dll
• Then copy these dll to your php folder inside the laragon folder, mine is C:\laragon\bin\php\php-8.1.5-nts-Win32-vs16-x64\ext
• Then Edit your php.ini, add the extension
• Then restart your laragon server

Step 2. Make a new laravel app using laragon quick app menu

• Then we need to update the .env file

DB_CONNECTION=sqlsrv
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=1433
DB_DATABASE=lara-sqlserver
DB_USERNAME= sa
DB_PASSWORD= 12345678 

• Next, create the database in sql management studio, mine is lara-sqlserver

• Before running the migration, make sure to enable tcp-ip in sql configuration manager
  

• then run the migration
  

     php artisan migrate

• if everything works fine you should see this in your terminal

Thanks guys!