Question: moving around SQLExpress MDF file...

[VB Programmer]

I have a SQLExpress MDF file that I'm using for membership data, etc... in
my ASP.NET 2.0 website.

1. If I want to use the website MDF during development on my local machine
can I simply copy the MDF from the website and replace the one on my dev
machine? Or, are there special permissions to setup, etc...? Is it pretty
transportable?

2. To backup the database, if I just burn the MDF to a cd is that good
enough? To restore can I just copy the MDF back to the webserver?

Thanks!

 

[David Browne]

I have a SQLExpress MDF file that I'm using for membership data, etc... in
my ASP.NET 2.0 website.

1. If I want to use the website MDF during development on my local
machine can I simply copy the MDF from the website and replace the one on
my dev machine? Or, are there special permissions to setup, etc...? Is
it pretty transportable?

So long as the the database has only on .MDF file and it is not mounted to a
SQL Server instance you can copy it just like a normal file.

2. To backup the database, if I just burn the MDF to a cd is that good
enough? To restore can I just copy the MDF back to the webserver?

Yes. This is refered to as a "cold backup" and you must shut down SQL
Server or detach the database file first.

David