[v7.1.0-preview2] Release Notes and vBump

* vBump in Versions.props, OneBranch pipelines, and CI/PR pipelines to v7.1.0-preview2

* Release notes for v7.1.0-preview2

Author: priyankatiwari08

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,123 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 
 > **Note:** Releases are sorted in reverse chronological order (newest first).
 
+## [Preview Release 7.1.0-preview2] - 2026-07-09
+
+This update brings the following changes since the [7.1.0-preview1](release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview1.md) release.
+See the [full release notes](release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md) for detailed descriptions.
+
+> **Important — package version alignment:** Starting with the [7.0.2](release-notes/7.0/7.0.2.md) release, the `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver and its companion packages share a single aligned version. Preview 2 of the `7.1` line continues this alignment; the following packages now ship together as `7.1.0-preview2`:
+>
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging`
+>
+> (`Microsoft.SqlServer.Server` continues to version independently and remains at `1.0.0`.)
+>
+> Applications that reference `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure` must upgrade it to `7.1.0-preview2` when upgrading `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` to `7.1.0-preview2`.
+>
+> **Compatibility guarantee:** All aligned assemblies ship with `FileVersion 7.1.0.x` and `AssemblyVersion 7.0.0.0`. The `AssemblyVersion` is unchanged from [7.0.2](release-notes/7.0/7.0.2.md), so upgrading from `7.0.2` to `7.1.0-preview2` does **not** require any new .NET Framework strong-name binding redirects. See the 7.0.2 release notes for the original `AssemblyVersion` alignment (the one-time breaking change that raised `AssemblyVersion` from `1.0.0.0` to `7.0.0.0` for `Extensions.Azure`, `Extensions.Abstractions`, and `Internal.Logging`; `AzureKeyVaultProvider` was already on `7.x`).
+
+### Added
+
+- Added `SqlConnection.GetSchemaAsync` overloads mirroring the existing synchronous shapes.
+  ([#3005](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3005))
+
+- Added SQL Graph column-alias support (`$node_id`, `$edge_id`, `$from_id`, `$to_id`) as destination columns in `SqlBulkCopy`.
+  ([#3677](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3677))
+
+- `SqlBatchCommand.CommandBehavior` (a driver-specific property that existed since batching was introduced but was previously ignored) is now honored during `SqlBatch` execution, and `SqlBatch.ExecuteReader` now respects the `CommandBehavior` value passed to it.
+  ([#4125](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4125))
+
+- Added a `Connection Idle Timeout` connection-string keyword and matching `SqlConnectionStringBuilder.IdleTimeout` property to evict idle connections in pool v2 (default `300` seconds; `0` disables). Enforcement is opt-in via `Switch.Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.UseLegacyIdleTimeoutBehavior=false`; the default preserves the historical pooling behavior.
+  ([#4295](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4295))
+
+- Added Windows Account Manager (WAM) broker support for the supported Entra ID authentication modes on Windows, including the new `ActiveDirectoryAuthenticationProviderOptions` type, an `ActiveDirectoryAuthenticationProvider(ActiveDirectoryAuthenticationProviderOptions)` constructor, a cross-platform `SetParentActivityOrWindowFunc(Func<object>?)`, and a `useWamBroker` configuration attribute.
+  ([#4288](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4288))
+
+### Changed
+
+- The `Connect Timeout` budget is now propagated through pool acquisition via a shared `TimeoutTimer`, so time spent waiting in the pool is deducted from the overall timeout. Adds a dependency on `Microsoft.Bcl.TimeProvider`.
+  ([#4270](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4270))
+
+- Implemented pool shutdown for `ChannelDbConnectionPool` and added automatic pool size reduction (pruning) for the channel-based pool.
+  ([#4302](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4302),
+   [#4304](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4304))
+
+- Hardened `SqlConnection` internal state transitions with `Interlocked.CompareExchange` guards.
+  ([#4267](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4267))
+
+- Removed legacy connection-options inheritance from internal APIs and simplified `TryOpenConnection` / `TryReplaceConnection` / pool interfaces.
+  ([#4235](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4235),
+   [#4237](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4237),
+   [#4261](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4261),
+   [#4415](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4415))
+
+- Added the SQL Server 2025 `json` data type to the `DataTypes` schema table returned by `SqlConnection.GetSchema`.
+  ([#3858](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3858))
+
+- Added async generic helpers to reduce sync/async duplication.
+  ([#4334](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4334))
+
+- Use hardcoded LCID mappings when decoding strings.
+  ([#4212](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4212))
+
+- Reduced allocations by skipping lock acquisition on `SqlErrorCollection` counters when no errors exist, and by avoiding stack-trace materialization on expected `null`-return paths.
+  ([#4099](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4099),
+   [#4102](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4102),
+   [#4157](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4157))
+
+- Improved accuracy of `EnclaveDiffieHellmanInfo.Size`.
+  ([#4346](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4346))
+
+- `SqlVector<float>` now serializes and deserializes multibyte values as little-endian explicitly.
+  ([#3861](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3861))
+
+- Updated `Microsoft.Identity.Client` (and added `Microsoft.Identity.Client.Broker`) to `4.84.2` to enable WAM, and updated the bundled .NET 10 SDK to `10.0.300`.
+  ([#4287](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4287),
+   [#4288](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4288))
+
+- Re-shipped `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider`, `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure`, `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions`, and `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging` as `7.1.0-preview2` (version alignment only, no functional changes). See release notes for [AKV](release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md), [Azure](release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md), [Abstractions](release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md), and [Logging](release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md).
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed a `NullReferenceException` in `SqlCommand.Cancel()` when the active connection has already been torn down.
+  ([#4372](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4372))
+
+- Fixed Always Encrypted column master key signature verification incorrectly reusing cached results after a prior verification failure.
+  ([#4339](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4339))
+
+- Fixed missing bounds checks on TDS token and feature-extension-acknowledgment data lengths that could allow a spoofing server to trigger unbounded allocations.
+  ([#4340](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4340))
+
+- Fixed `SqlBulkCopy` failing in least-privilege environments.
+  ([#4306](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4306))
+
+- Fixed Always Encrypted reads of `CekMdVersion` and `EkValueCount` to align with the TDS specification.
+  ([#4240](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4240))
+
+- Fixed `LoginWithFailover` to validate parser state before continuing.
+  ([#4140](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4140))
+
+- Fixed the SPN used during login to use the resolved port instead of the instance name when `Protocol=None` or `Protocol=Admin`.
+  ([#4180](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4180))
+
+- Fixed a race in `SqlConnection.TryOpenInner` that could surface as `InvalidCastException`; the same race now returns a deterministic `InvalidOperationException`.
+  ([#4179](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4179))
+
+- Fixed several `CancellationTokenSource` leaks across `SqlDataReader`, `SqlConnection` reconnect, `SqlCommand` reconnect timeout, and sequential-stream helpers.
+  ([#4009](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4009))
+
+- Fixed server certificate documentation.
+  ([#4408](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4408))
+
+### Removed
+
+- **Breaking:** Removed SQL Server 7.0 and SQL Server 2000 support, along with the `TypeSystem.SQLServer2000` enum value and the `Type System Version=SQL Server 2000` connection-string value. Connection strings that specify this value now throw `ArgumentException` when the connection is opened. Supported values are `Latest`, `SQL Server 2005`, `SQL Server 2008`, and `SQL Server 2012`.
+  ([#4015](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4015))
+
 ## [Stable Release 7.0.2] - 2026-06-24
 
 This update brings the following changes since the [7.0.1](release-notes/7.0/7.0.1.md) release.

eng/pipelines/libraries/ci-build-variables.yml

@@ -24,42 +24,42 @@ variables:
 
   # Abstractions library assembly file version
   - name: abstractionsAssemblyFileVersion
-    value: 1.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
 
   # Abstractions library NuGet package version
   - name: abstractionsPackageVersion
-    value: 1.1.0-preview1ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0-preview2ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
 
   # AKV provider assembly file version
   - name: akvAssemblyFileVersion
     value: 7.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
 
   # AKV provider NuGet package version
   - name: akvPackageVersion
-    value: 7.1.0-preview1ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0-preview2ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
 
   # Azure library assembly file version
   - name: azureAssemblyFileVersion
-    value: 1.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
 
   # Azure library NuGet package version
   - name: azurePackageVersion
-    value: 1.1.0-preview1ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0-preview2ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
 
   # Logging library assembly file version
   - name: loggingAssemblyFileVersion
-    value: 1.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0.$(assemblyBuildNumber)
 
   # Logging library NuGet package version
   - name: loggingPackageVersion
-    value: 1.1.0-preview1ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0-preview2ci$(Build.BuildNumber)
 
   # MDS library NuGet package version
   # NOTE: This differs from the other structures! MdsVersions.props will deconstruct a provided
   #    package version and build an assembly version from it. If the build number is included
   #    before the "-" the build number will be appended again, generating an invalid file version.
   - name: mdsPackageVersion
-    value: 7.1.0-preview1ci$(AssemblyBuildNumber)
+    value: 7.1.0-preview2ci$(AssemblyBuildNumber)
 
   # SqlServer library NuGet package version
   # NOTE: SqlServer's version props derive file version from the package version by appending the

eng/pipelines/onebranch/variables/package-variables.yml

@@ -53,13 +53,13 @@ variables:
     value: 'drop_build_abstractions_build_package_Abstractions'
 
   - name: abstractionsFileVersion
-    value: '1.0.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
+    value: '7.1.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
 
   - name: abstractionsPackageVersion
     ${{ if parameters.isPreview }}:
-      value: '1.0.0-preview1.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
+      value: '7.1.0-preview2.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
     ${{ else }}:
-      value: '1.0.0'
+      value: '7.1.0'
 
   # ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # AKV Provider Package
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ variables:
     value: 'drop_build_addons_build_package_AkvProvider'
 
   - name: akvProviderFileVersion
-    value: '7.0.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
+    value: '7.1.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
 
   - name: akvProviderPackageVersion
     ${{ if parameters.isPreview }}:
-      value: '7.0.0-preview1.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
+      value: '7.1.0-preview2.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
     ${{ else }}:
-      value: '7.0.0'
+      value: '7.1.0'
 
   # ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # Azure Package
@@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ variables:
     value: 'drop_build_dependent_build_package_Azure'
 
   - name: azureFileVersion
-    value: '1.0.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
+    value: '7.1.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
 
   - name: azurePackageVersion
     ${{ if parameters.isPreview }}:
-      value: '1.0.0-preview1.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
+      value: '7.1.0-preview2.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
     ${{ else }}:
-      value: '1.0.0'
+      value: '7.1.0'
 
   # ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # Logging Package
@@ -98,13 +98,13 @@ variables:
     value: 'drop_build_independent_build_package_Logging'
 
   - name: loggingFileVersion
-    value: '1.0.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
+    value: '7.1.0.$(_assemblyBuildNumber)'
 
   - name: loggingPackageVersion
     ${{ if parameters.isPreview }}:
-      value: '1.0.0-preview1.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
+      value: '7.1.0-preview2.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
     ${{ else }}:
-      value: '1.0.0'
+      value: '7.1.0'
 
   # ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # SqlClient Package
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ variables:
 
   - name: sqlClientPackageVersion
     ${{ if parameters.isPreview }}:
-      value: '7.1.0-preview1.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
+      value: '7.1.0-preview2.$(Build.BuildNumber)'
     ${{ else }}:
       value: '7.1.0'