2.0: What Database Software?

[JJ]

Looking for a database for the backend to my e-commerce web site that
doesn't cost the earth.

Planned on using mySQL but I gather that there is no connector compatible
with asp 2.0 available yet.

What other options do I have?

Thanks in advance,

JJ

 

[Richard Brown]

You've not given us much to go on here.

How many users do you expect, how many hits per minute, how many
concurrent db connections. Are you running multiple IIS servers?

Most hosts offer sql server at a reasonable price.

If it's just a relatively low traffic web based app then the msde
engine is free.

If you are hosting the site yourself and you want something free then
take a look at SQL Server 2005 Express version it's a free download
from Microsoft.

I've been using this for some time now and am very impressed with the
functionality and UI.

Richard

 

[Mark Rae]

Looking for a database for the backend to my e-commerce web site that
doesn't cost the earth.

Planned on using mySQL but I gather that there is no connector compatible
with asp 2.0 available yet.

What other options do I have?

I guess that depends on what your ISP supports unless, of course, you're
hosting the site yourself in which case you can use whatever you like.

SQL Server Express 2005 is a good place to start - it's completely free and,
as it's a Microsoft product, you can be pretty certain you won't have any
incompatibility problems...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/

mySQL is also an excellent product. I've not tried the connector with v2,
but it certainly works perfectly with v1.1
http://www.mysql.com/products/connector/net/

 

[JJ]

I should have said that I intend hosting it myself, and that its use is for
small businesses startups product catalogues. I don't know exactly how busy
the site(s) will be but I can't image we are talking anything but a
comparitively low amount of concurrent users, on several different web sites
on the same IIS server.

Do your answers still apply?

Thanks,
JJ

 

[Mark Rae]

I should have said that I intend hosting it myself, and that its use is for
small businesses startups product catalogues. I don't know exactly how busy
the site(s) will be but I can't image we are talking anything but a
comparitively low amount of concurrent users, on several different web
sites on the same IIS server.
Ah.

Do your answers still apply?

Even more so! Go for SQL Server Express 2005, at least, initially. If things
really kick off, the upgrade to full-blown SQL Server will be virtually
seamless.

 

[Richard Brown]

Absolutely, download SQL Server 2005 Express, I think you'll be
surprised buy how good it actually is. (Given that it's free)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/

 

[TB]

Sorry to jump into this thread, but since SQL Server 2005 Express is free
what is catch? Limits on the number of simultaneous users (like MSDE)?

TB

 

[Mark Rae]

Sorry to jump into this thread, but since SQL Server 2005 Express is free
what is catch? Limits on the number of simultaneous users (like MSDE)?

Sort of...
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/features/compare-features.mspx

 

[BettyB]

Even more so! Go for SQL Server Express 2005, at least, initially. If things
really kick off, the upgrade to full-blown SQL Server will be virtually
seamless.

The switch from SQL Server Express to the real SQL Server 2005 has
been less than seamless for me. I am trying to work through the Wrox
book Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 which is written for Express (that is the
example site is set up to use Express). Since I want to learn what I
might use in production I tried to change the database connection to
full SQL Server 2005. No luck. Are there any instructions for
changing the setup from Express to full 2005?

 

[dejavue82]

Using the Provider model, this ought not be a problem.

 

[Mark Rae]

Using the Provider model, this ought not be a problem.

Indeed.

 

[JJ]

Some basic and probably stupid questions here.....(sorry)

I notice the SQL server express's main limitation (please correct me if I am
wrong) is that its database size is limited to 4GB. I can't see any such
limitation on 'connections'. I don't _think_ that the 4gb limitation should
be a problem for my small business web sites, that is, _assuming_ I am
correct in assuming this limitation is for EACH database and not all
currently running databases under that SQL application?

Do you need CAL's for web based access to your database?
In fact the same question goes for Windows 2003 server - do you need CALS to
cover web access via IIS?

I am assumming the Provider Model provides a smooth and easy upgrade to SQL
2005.....? Is this something I need to look at before setting up the SQL
express, or only when I need to upgrade?

Thanks in advance,

JJ

 

[JJ]

And more questions:

I am setting up own server for multiple web sites - I intend to have an
identical server held in reserve in case of hardware failure. However I am
told that in order to backup or synchronise the database I'd need to use
live backups or log shipping. Apparently SQL Express doesn't do either.
Anyone else any experience on this?

Some basic and probably stupid questions here.....(sorry)

I notice the SQL server express's main limitation (please correct me if I
am wrong) is that its database size is limited to 4GB. I can't see any
such limitation on 'connections'. I don't _think_ that the 4gb limitation
should be a problem for my small business web sites, that is, _assuming_ I
am correct in assuming this limitation is for EACH database and not all
currently running databases under that SQL application?

Do you need CAL's for web based access to your database?
In fact the same question goes for Windows 2003 server - do you need CALS
to cover web access via IIS?

I am assumming the Provider Model provides a smooth and easy upgrade to
SQL 2005.....? Is this something I need to look at before setting up the
SQL express, or only when I need to upgrade?

Thanks in advance,

JJ



Indeed.

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