VPN to sqlserver?

[mikeb]

I just returned from the server groups - I was trying to find the best way
for my CF application to access a remote SQLserver via the internet.

I was hoping for something simple, like opening a port on the router and
using NAT. But security is compromised. The suggestions were to use VPN.

For a quick background:
We don't have any control over the sql server nor the front end host app.
Basically, we have a connection string on our scanner app that allows us
access to the sqlserver's stored procedures for data input/output.
Everything is working so long as we can connect directly to the LAN.

The users now want to add in a remote warhouse that is not on the corporate
LAN, but does have internet access.

First, does anyone have any specific ideas to get connected to the sqlserver
over the internet that might not have been suggested in the other groups?
VPN was the primary means.

Second, whats the process to get a CF app on a pda device connected through
a VPN? Is this possible?

I'm not sure this is the right group to ask, but I seem to have been routed
back here to finalize the question.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Arun]

If you can connect to the SQL Server over VPN then you can directly
query your database.

There is another method where you can query your database using HTTP
(internet), but sorry I have never tried this from Pocket PC, I hope
big guns here (Peter Foot, Alex, Chris, Darren, Tim) can confirm this
possibility for us.

Actually, this is an advance feature of SQL Server 2000, which mostly
deals with XML. SQL Server 2000 can be accessed directly by queries
executed at the URL (provided, if the allow URL queries option was
selected when the virtual root was registered). Clients can make
requests using HTTP methods GET and POST. The SQL ISAPI extension
supports the following URL syntax.

The syntax is as below:
http://iisserver/virtualroot/virtualname[/pathinfo][/XpathExpression]
[?param=value[&param=value]...n]
Or
http://iisserver/virtualroot?{sql=SqlString | template=XMLTemplate}
[&param=value[&param=value]...n]

For examples,
http://IISServer/nwind?sql=SELECT+FirstName+FROM+Employees
http://IISServer/nwind?sql=SELECT+*+FROM+Customers+FOR+XML+AUTO&root=root

The best book is 'Sql Server Books Online'...

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Arun.
www.innasite.com