dotnet · benrr101 · May 19, 2026 · May 20, 2026 · May 20, 2026 · May 20, 2026
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
 
 # Write test config file so the test suite can find the connection string.
 CONFIG_DIR="${REPO_ROOT}/src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities"
-CONFIG_DEFAULT_FILE="${CONFIG_DIR}/config.default.json"
-CONFIG_FILE="${CONFIG_DIR}/config.json"
+CONFIG_DEFAULT_FILE="${CONFIG_DIR}/config.default.jsonc"
+CONFIG_FILE="${CONFIG_DIR}/config.jsonc"
 echo "Writing test config to ${CONFIG_FILE} (based on ${CONFIG_DEFAULT_FILE})..."
 TCP_CONN_STR="Data Source=tcp:${SQL_HOST},${SQL_PORT};Database=Northwind;User Id=sa;Password=${SA_PASSWORD};Encrypt=false;TrustServerCertificate=true"
-# config.default.json contains JS-style comments (// ...) which are not valid JSON.
+# config.default.jsonc contains JS-style comments (// ...) which are not valid JSON.
 # Strip single-line comments before feeding to jq.
 sed 's|//.*||' "${CONFIG_DEFAULT_FILE}" \
   | jq --arg cs "${TCP_CONN_STR}" \

@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/
 ├── UnitTests/                # Unit tests with minimal dependencies
 └── tools/
     └── Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/
-        ├── config.default.json   # Template configuration
-        └── config.json           # Local test configuration (git-ignored)
+        ├── config.default.jsonc  # Template configuration
+        └── config.jsonc          # Local test configuration (git-ignored)
 ```
 
 ## Test Categories
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/
 
 ### Manual Tests (`ManualTests/`)
 - Full integration tests with SQL Server
-- Require `config.json` setup
+- Require `config.jsonc` setup
 - Test real database operations
 - Include Always Encrypted, Entra ID tests
 
 ## Test Configuration
 
-### Setting Up `config.json`
-Copy `config.default.json` to `config.json` and configure:
+### Setting Up `config.jsonc`
+Copy `config.default.jsonc` to `config.jsonc` and configure:
 
 ```json
 {

@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ node_modules/
 
 # Config Json file
 **/config.json
+**/config.jsonc
 
 # Generated Milestone PR metadata files
 .milestone-prs/

@@ -195,22 +195,22 @@ conditional tests are skipped.
 ## Manual Test Configuration
 
 Edit the source configuration file at `src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/
-config.json`. The test utilities project copies that file to the test output directory, where the manual tests load it
+config.jsonc`. The test utilities project copies that file to the test output directory, where the manual tests load it
 by default.
 
 The template file is:
 
-[src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.default.json](src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.default.json)
+[src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.default.jsonc](src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.default.jsonc)
 
-`config.json` is git-ignored. If it does not exist, the test utilities project copies `config.default.json` to
-`config.json` before compile. You can also create it manually:
+`config.jsonc` is git-ignored. If it does not exist, the test utilities project copies `config.default.jsonc` to
+`config.jsonc` before compile. You can also create it manually:
 
 ```bash
-cp src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.default.json \
-  src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.json
+cp src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.default.jsonc \
+  src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities/config.jsonc
 ```
 
-Update `config.json` for your environment before running manual tests. The most important values for a basic run are `TCPConnectionString` and `NPConnectionString`.
+Update `config.jsonc` for your environment before running manual tests. The most important values for a basic run are `TCPConnectionString` and `NPConnectionString`.
 
 ```jsonc
 {
@@ -230,16 +230,16 @@ For SQL Server in a Linux container, WSL, or another host where SQL authenticati
 }
 ```
 
-You can override the config file path with the `MDS_TEST_CONFIG` environment variable:
+You can override the config file path with the `TEST_MDS_CONFIG` environment variable:
 
 ```bash
-MDS_TEST_CONFIG=/path/to/config.json dotnet build -t:TestSqlClientManual -p:TestSet=2
+TEST_MDS_CONFIG=/path/to/config.jsonc dotnet build -t:TestSqlClientManual -p:TestSet=2
 ```
 
 On PowerShell:
 
 ```powershell
-$env:MDS_TEST_CONFIG = "C:\path\to\config.json"
+$env:TEST_MDS_CONFIG = "C:\path\to\config.jsonc"
 dotnet build -t:TestSqlClientManual -p:TestSet=2
 ```
 
@@ -263,15 +263,13 @@ dotnet build -t:TestSqlClientManual -p:TestSet=2
 | `SupportsIntegratedSecurity`     | Whether the user running tests has integrated-security access to the target SQL Server.     | `true` or `false`.                                                                     |
 | `LocalDbAppName`                 | Optional LocalDB instance name. Empty disables LocalDB testing.                             | `MSSQLLocalDB` or another local instance.                                              |
 | `LocalDbSharedInstanceName`      | Optional shared LocalDB instance name.                                                      | Used only when testing shared LocalDB.                                                 |
-| `SupportsFileStream`             | Whether FileStream tests are supported by the target.                                       | `true` or `false`.                                                                     |
 | `FileStreamDirectory`            | Directory used for FileStream database setup.                                               | Use an escaped absolute path in JSON.                                                  |
 | `UseManagedSNIOnWindows`         | Enables Managed SNI on Windows test coverage.                                               | `true` or `false`.                                                                     |
 | `DNSCachingConnString`           | Optional connection string for DNS caching tests.                                           | Used with DNS caching server settings.                                                 |
 | `DNSCachingServerCR`             | Optional DNS caching control-ring server.                                                   | Feature-specific tests only.                                                           |
 | `DNSCachingServerTR`             | Optional DNS caching tenant-ring server.                                                    | Feature-specific tests only.                                                           |
 | `IsDNSCachingSupportedCR`        | Enables DNS caching control-ring tests.                                                     | `true` or `false`.                                                                     |
 | `IsDNSCachingSupportedTR`        | Enables DNS caching tenant-ring tests.                                                      | `true` or `false`.                                                                     |
-| `IsAzureSynapse`                 | Marks the target as Azure Synapse.                                                          | Some SQL Server-specific tests are skipped when `true`.                                |
 | `EnclaveAzureDatabaseConnString` | Optional Azure SQL database connection string for enclave tests.                            | Feature-specific tests only.                                                           |
 | `ManagedIdentitySupported`       | Whether managed identity tests should run.                                                  | Defaults to `true`. Set `false` if unavailable.                                        |
 | `UserManagedIdentityClientId`    | Optional client ID for user-assigned managed identity tests.                                | Feature-specific tests only.                                                           |

@@ -30,11 +30,9 @@ parameters:
   # template expansion.
   #
   #   EnclaveEnabled
-  #   IsAzureSynapse
   #   IsDNSCachingSupportedCR
   #   IsDNSCachingSupportedTR
   #   ManagedIdentitySupported
-  #   SupportsFileStream
   #   SupportsIntegratedSecurity
   #   TracingEnabled
   #
@@ -236,7 +234,7 @@ jobs:
         referenceType: Project
 
   - ${{ if ne(parameters.configProperties, '{}') }}:
-    - template: /eng/pipelines/common/templates/steps/update-config-file-step.yml@self # update config.json file
+    - template: /eng/pipelines/common/templates/steps/update-config-file-step.yml@self # update config.jsonc file
       parameters:
         debug: ${{ parameters.debug }}
         saPassword: ${{ parameters.saPassword }}
@@ -279,8 +277,6 @@ jobs:
           AliasName: ${{ parameters.configProperties.AliasName }}
         ${{ if parameters.configProperties.SupportsIntegratedSecurity }}:
           SupportsIntegratedSecurity: ${{ eq(parameters.configProperties.SupportsIntegratedSecurity, 'true') }}
-        ${{ if parameters.configProperties.SupportsFileStream }}:
-          SupportsFileStream: ${{ eq(parameters.configProperties.SupportsFileStream, 'true') }}
         ${{ if parameters.configProperties.DNSCachingConnString }}:
           DNSCachingConnString: ${{ parameters.configProperties.DNSCachingConnString }}
         ${{ if parameters.configProperties.DNSCachingServerCR }}:
@@ -293,8 +289,6 @@ jobs:
           IsDNSCachingSupportedCR: ${{ eq(parameters.configProperties.IsDNSCachingSupportedCR, 'true') }}
         ${{ if parameters.configProperties.IsDNSCachingSupportedTR }}:
           IsDNSCachingSupportedTR: ${{ eq(parameters.configProperties.IsDNSCachingSupportedTR, 'true') }}
-        ${{ if parameters.configProperties.IsAzureSynapse }}:
-          IsAzureSynapse: ${{ eq(parameters.configProperties.IsAzureSynapse, 'true') }}
         ${{ if parameters.configProperties.ManagedIdentitySupported }}:
           ManagedIdentitySupported: ${{ eq(parameters.configProperties.ManagedIdentitySupported, 'true') }}
 

@@ -93,10 +93,6 @@ parameters:
     type: boolean
     default: false
 
-  - name: SupportsFileStream
-    type: boolean
-    default: false
-
   - name: DNSCachingConnString
     type: string
     default: ''
@@ -121,10 +117,6 @@ parameters:
     type: boolean
     default: false
 
-  - name: IsAzureSynapse
-    type: boolean
-    default: false
-
   - name: ManagedIdentitySupported
     type: boolean
     default: true
@@ -151,9 +143,9 @@ steps:
       Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=Password;isSecret=true]$password"
     displayName: Set Connection String Password
 
-  # All properties should be added here, and this template should be used for any manipulation of the config.json file.
+  # All properties should be added here, and this template should be used for any manipulation of the config.jsonc file.
   - pwsh: |
-      $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.default.json" | ConvertFrom-Json
+      $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.default.jsonc" | ConvertFrom-Json
       foreach ($p in $jdata)
       {
           $p.TCPConnectionString="${{parameters.TCPConnectionString }}"
@@ -188,8 +180,6 @@ steps:
 
           $p.DNSCachingConnString="${{parameters.DNSCachingConnString }}"
 
-          $p.SupportsFileStream="${{parameters.SupportsFileStream }}"
-
           $p.LocalDbAppName="${{parameters.LocalDbAppName }}"
 
           $p.TCPConnectionStringAASSGX="${{parameters.TCPConnectionStringAASSGX }}"
@@ -201,20 +191,19 @@ steps:
           $p.UseManagedSNIOnWindows=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.UseManagedSNIOnWindows }}")
           $p.SupportsIntegratedSecurity=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.SupportsIntegratedSecurity }}")
           $p.ManagedIdentitySupported=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.ManagedIdentitySupported }}")
-          $p.IsAzureSynapse=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.IsAzureSynapse }}")
           $p.IsDNSCachingSupportedTR=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.IsDNSCachingSupportedTR }}")
           $p.IsDNSCachingSupportedCR=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.IsDNSCachingSupportedCR }}")
           $p.TracingEnabled=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.TracingEnabled }}")
           $p.EnclaveEnabled=[System.Convert]::ToBoolean("${{parameters.EnclaveEnabled }}")
           $p.WorkloadIdentityFederationServiceConnectionId="${{parameters.WorkloadIdentityFederationServiceConnectionId }}"
       }
-      $jdata | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content "config.json"
+      $jdata | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content "config.jsonc"
     workingDirectory: src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities
-    displayName: 'Update config.json'
+    displayName: 'Update config.jsonc'
 
   - ${{ if eq(parameters.debug, true) }}:
     - pwsh: |
-        $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.json" | ConvertFrom-Json
+        $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.jsonc" | ConvertFrom-Json
         foreach ($p in $jdata)
         {
             foreach ($prop in $p.PSObject.Properties)
@@ -223,4 +212,4 @@ steps:
             }
         }
       workingDirectory: src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities
-      displayName: '[Debug] Emit config.json'
+      displayName: '[Debug] Emit config.jsonc'
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ stages:
           useManagedSNI: ${{parameters.useManagedSNI }}
           configSqlFor: local
           operatingSystem: Windows
-          # config.json properties
+          # config.jsonc properties
           configProperties:
             TCPConnectionString: $(SQL_TCP_CONN_STRING)
             NPConnectionString: $(SQL_NP_CONN_STRING)

@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ jobs:
           debug: ${{ parameters.debug }}
           saPassword: ${{ parameters.saPassword }}
 
-          # The config.json file has many options, but only some of them are
+          # The config.jsonc file has many options, but only some of them are
           # used by the Azure package tests.  We only specify the ones that are
           # necessary here.
 

@@ -141,16 +141,16 @@ stages:
           # requires compile-time parameters.
           - pwsh: |
               $managedSni = [System.Convert]::ToBoolean($env:MANAGED_SNI)
-              $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.default.json" | ConvertFrom-Json
+              $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.default.jsonc" | ConvertFrom-Json
               foreach ($p in $jdata) {
                   $p.TCPConnectionString       = $env:REMOTE_TCP_CONN_STRING
                   $p.NPConnectionString        = $env:REMOTE_NP_CONN_STRING
                   $p.SupportsIntegratedSecurity = $true
                   $p.UseManagedSNIOnWindows    = $managedSni
               }
-              $jdata | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content "config.json"
+              $jdata | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content "config.jsonc"
             workingDirectory: src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities
-            displayName: Update test config.json
+            displayName: Update test config.jsonc
             env:
               REMOTE_TCP_CONN_STRING: $(REMOTE_TCP_CONN_STRING)
               REMOTE_NP_CONN_STRING: $(REMOTE_NP_CONN_STRING)
@@ -234,17 +234,17 @@ stages:
 
           # --- Update test configuration (with Kerberos credentials) ---
           - pwsh: |
-              $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.default.json" | ConvertFrom-Json
+              $jdata = Get-Content -Raw "config.default.jsonc" | ConvertFrom-Json
               foreach ($p in $jdata) {
                   $p.TCPConnectionString       = $env:REMOTE_TCP_CONN_STRING
                   $p.NPConnectionString        = $env:REMOTE_NP_CONN_STRING
                   $p.SupportsIntegratedSecurity = $true
               }
               $jdata | Add-Member -NotePropertyName "KerberosDomainUser"     -NotePropertyValue $env:KERBEROS_DOMAIN_USER     -Force
               $jdata | Add-Member -NotePropertyName "KerberosDomainPassword" -NotePropertyValue $env:KERBEROS_DOMAIN_PASSWORD -Force
-              $jdata | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content "config.json"
+              $jdata | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content "config.jsonc"
             workingDirectory: src/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient/tests/tools/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.TestUtilities
-            displayName: Update test config.json (Kerberos)
+            displayName: Update test config.jsonc (Kerberos)
             env:
               REMOTE_TCP_CONN_STRING: $(REMOTE_TCP_CONN_STRING)
               REMOTE_NP_CONN_STRING: $(REMOTE_NP_CONN_STRING)

@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ jobs:
             "@
 
             # Write the JSON content to the config file.
-            $content | Out-File -FilePath "config.json"
+            $content | Out-File -FilePath "config.jsonc"
 
       # Authenticate with NuGet feeds so that upstream packages (e.g. runtime host packs) can be
       # fetched through the ADO Artifacts feed.  This is required on hosted pool agents (macOS)
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ jobs:
           inputs:
             command: run
             projects: $(project)
-            arguments: $(runArguments) --no-build -f ${{ runtime }} -e STRESS_CONFIG_FILE=config.json -- $(testArguments)
+            arguments: $(runArguments) --no-build -f ${{ runtime }} -e STRESS_CONFIG_FILE=config.jsonc -- $(testArguments)
 
       # Run the stress tests for each .NET Framework runtime.
       - ${{ each runtime in parameters.netFrameworkTestRuntimes }}:
@@ -219,4 +219,4 @@ jobs:
           inputs:
             command: run
             projects: $(project)
-            arguments: $(runArguments) --no-build -f ${{ runtime }} -e STRESS_CONFIG_FILE=config.json -- $(testArguments)
+            arguments: $(runArguments) --no-build -f ${{ runtime }} -e STRESS_CONFIG_FILE=config.jsonc -- $(testArguments)