I am currently using a Microsoft Access (MDB) for my application. But I am looking at allowing other users on the network access the same database -- I know a Microsoft Access database is not the best solutuon for this enviroment.
I'd like to use SQL Server 2005 Express in this case. I am very fimilular with SQL Server 2000 Std/Ent editions. My question is, can I use the free SQL Server 2005 Express edition and allow remote users to connect to that database Or is it supposed to only be used as a local database accessed by only the machine it's installed on
Thanks,
Jason
SQL Server 2005 Express remote access?
SCHRANK
JenLS
Thanks for your response.
I did look at the editions comparison chart, but found nothing relating to remote access and # of users. SQL Server 2000 is either per CPU or per User. Nothing I'vwe read about SQL Server 2005 clearly explains that licensing is now only per CPU and for 1 CPU is free (max of 1GB RAM, 4GB Database).
The limitations of the express edition of 2005 are not a issue for me, my only concern was whether or not I can legally use SQL Server 2005 Express and allow multilple users to connect to it.
Jason Roozee
toypaj
Yes you sure can. Hook up 10 users if you want. I have not tested it from a performance perspective...but from a legal perspective this appears to be fine.
Express 2005 has network access turned off by default for "security reasons". However, my understanding is that you can open network access up with a simple command line switch when you do a silent install.
The only other thing you have to worry about then is the XP firewall and my understanding is that there is an API that will allow you to turn it off.
Viktor Placek
You can find a comparison of the different Editions of SQL 2005 here http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/features/compare-features.mspx, which includes the limitations of each edition.
Remote users can connect to SQL Express, but that is turned off by default, so you have to configure it. Information about confinguring remote access can be found at http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/archive/2005/05/05/415084.aspx.
There is no theorectical limit to the number of users that can connect to SQL Express, but there is a practical limit since the server is constrained by a single CPU and 1 GB or RAM. Your actual limit is dependent upon a number of factors specific to your application and how it's being used.
Regards,
Mike Wachal
SQL Express
bobberino1
I'll confirm what Matt says, SQL Express is free, as in free.
The limitation are "self enforcing" so you just install it, configure it and use it. As Matt indicates, there is clearly a practical limit to the number of users using your application at the same time and that limit will be based on the speed of your CPU and what operations they are doing in the database, but there is hardwired limit that would prevent users from connecting.
One other thing you need to plan for in allowing remote connections is whether you want to use SQL Browser or not. SQL Browser is the service that generates the list of SQL Server instances for a computer. If you are installing SQL using a Named Instance, which is the default for SQL Express, and you have not enabled SQL Browser (and provided a firewall exception for it) you would need to connect using the specific TCP Port or Pipe name for the instance.
Regards,
Mike Wachal
SQL Express
Anvar
Hello, I am in a similar situation.
I have an Access 2000 database deployed with my production application today. This application is ran by 1 - 8 computer systems today and is deployed to hundreds of clients nationwide.
I am looking at sql express 2005 as a replacement for our Access 2000 database because we have experienced DB corruption on a few occasions over the past 2 - 2.5 years.
I need a database that is not succeptable to corruption and can easily be networked on 1-8 computer systems.
Everything I have read suggests their are not connection limitations but I find that strange and difficult to swallow.