Access Front-End with a HOSTED SQL Server Instance

[Guest]

I would like some assitance in validating the feasibility of a concept using
Access 2007 and SQL Server 2005. I would like to develop a front-end Access
application that can be installed and run on any computer. Using standard
Internet access, I would like this front-end application to connect to and
use as the back-end a HOSTED instance of SQL Server 2005 via one of the many
database hosting companies that provide these services. Is this scheme
possible? If so, could someone please provide creater detail regarding how
this connection would be established/configured? Your help is greatly
apprecaited.

 

[Larry Linson]

I would like some assitance in validating the feasibility of a concept
using
Access 2007 and SQL Server 2005. I would like to develop a front-end
Access
application that can be installed and run on any computer. Using standard
Internet access, I would like this front-end application to connect to and
use as the back-end a HOSTED instance of SQL Server 2005 via one of the
many
database hosting companies that provide these services. Is this scheme
possible? If so, could someone please provide creater detail regarding
how
this connection would be established/configured? Your help is greatly
apprecaited.

Wouldn't the "one of many database hosting companies" that you are going to
use be the place to get this information? There's not, AFAIK, a "general
method" for connecting with a server DB across the Internet.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I'm looking for some guidance in a more
instructive sense. For instance, what are some of the technical means
available to an Access developer to facilitate that kind of connection,
regardless of the hosting service? Is it even possible to connect with a
server in this scenario using an ODBC datasource? Can an Access Project
support this kind of connection? Are there any technical limitations
involved with this kind of connection? I need a little help understanding
the issues involved. Thanks.

 

[Rick Brandt]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I'm looking for some guidance in
a more instructive sense. For instance, what are some of the
technical means available to an Access developer to facilitate that
kind of connection, regardless of the hosting service? Is it even
possible to connect with a server in this scenario using an ODBC
datasource? Can an Access Project support this kind of connection?
Are there any technical limitations involved with this kind of
connection? I need a little help understanding the issues involved.
Thanks.

If the back end is a server database that exposes a port for accepting SQL
commands then it will work over the internet in exactly the same manner that
it would work over a LAN (just slower). As with a LAN you coud use an ODBC
DSN that is created by your install program or your app itself or it could
programmatically connect with a DSNLess connection.

I had an app that did this for a few years, but had to switch to HTTP
Requests to web service apps because my company didn't want a SQL Server
port open to the internet. If a hosting service does provide a service
where the standard connection ports are internet accessible then what you're
describing will work fine.

Many in the SQL Server world would not consider that the most secure
environment in the world, but not everyone needs ultra-tight security
either.