I created a MVC 4 project using MS Visual Web Developer 2010 Express. It by default uses "SimpleMembership" and it connects to a database (A) on my local SQL Server. I ran the web project and registered a trial user, and it was successful. When I checked the database A with Management Studio, the user was there.
However, when I turned on debug and opened the ASP.NET Web Application Administration Web Tool. It showed User: 0. Obviously the Admin Tool did not check the database A. Then I was able to create another user via the Admin Tool. Surprisingly it was found added to the "aspnetdb.mdf" in "App_Data" folder of my project.
My questions are:
how I can make the Admin Tool connect to the database A on my SQL Server instead of the "aspnetdb.mdf" file as I don't want to store my user profiles in two separate places.
Why "aspnetdb.mdf" uses ASP.Net Membership instead of "SimpleMembership"?
Thanks!
The Web Application Administration Tool was developed for SimpleMembership's predecessor ASP.NET Membership. When Microsoft released SimpleMembership they never bothered to provide support for any admin tool; you have to create one yourself. Take a look at this QA which explains in more detail.
Be aware that Microsoft has dropped SimpleMembership in MVC 5 for ASP.NET Identity. ASP.NET Identity is a much better solution, but it still does not come with an admin tool. I would move to ASP.NET Identity if possible. Here is an article on how to migrate to ASP.NET Identity.