Hi All,

I am reading a tutorial,that seems to suggest that i can deploy SQL Server
based
websites without having SQL Server installed on the server.

The impression i have is that i can connect to the '.MDF' file as a
standard file, rather than having to go through the database server.

Is this right?

If so, what penalities (performance, scalability, maintainance) are there
for doing this???

Is anyone doing this successfully!

What limitations would be needed to keep in mind???

Cheers,
Adam

No, your impression is wrong.

On the machine where your app runs, the SQL Server/SQL Server Express must
be installed for your SQL Server base app.

The feature in .NET2.0 that you can "connect to" a *.mdf file when needed,
is only available to SQL Server2005 Express, called Sql Server 2005 Express
"User Instance". Even so, Sql Server 2005 Express must be installed and
running before you can attach/detach the *.mdf file in your app.

Using "SQL Server 2005 Express user instance is not much different from SQL
Server on its power. However, if you talking performance/scalability..., you
have to be aware, "User Instance" means only the user account that the user
instance targets for havs access to the database. Depending on your your app
does, you definitely need to take this into account in regards to
performance, scalablity....

"AJ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:939DF6A1-AB5F-49BC-A2E6-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All,
>
> I am reading a tutorial,that seems to suggest that i can deploy SQL Server
> based
> websites without having SQL Server installed on the server.
>
> The impression i have is that i can connect to the '.MDF' file as a
> standard file, rather than having to go through the database server.
>
> Is this right?
>
> If so, what penalities (performance, scalability, maintainance) are there
> for doing this???
>
> Is anyone doing this successfully!
>
> What limitations would be needed to keep in mind???
>
> Cheers,
> Adam