getting started 101

hello,

i own about a dozen interactive forums (see example at http://ConcealedCarryForum.com for one of them) that i host on a windows 2000 server dedicated server out of my home on a commercial cable backbone. the forums are ASP using Access DBs. we have outgrown the capabilities of Access and are getting complaints from DB lag during peak usage, and i must upgrade my DB to ensure the QOS end users get from my forums. i have no intention of switching over to php/MySQL/linux formats.

i tried unsuccessfully to get MySQL to play nicely in a windows environment, and recently learned that MSSQL offers free versions, the compact and the express. trouble is, i know absolutely nothing about DB management. Access is idiot proof so i have used it as long as i could. now i find myself in a scramble to learn how to create, employ, and use a more powerful DB.

for my intended usage (running about a dozen DBs on a dedicated server), will compact or express be the appropriate version to start learning? for my intended usage, is there any benefit to downloading/installing/learning the additional tools that are also available? if so, which tools? where do i learn how to create new DBs, and what tools do i need to do this? most tech papers ive seen on MSSQL assume a prior working knowledge of MSSQL DB management and im coming into this completely ignorant but willing to dedicate myself to learning.

answers, advice, etc. very much appreciated.

SQL Server Express should be your best pick (if the volume of the database increases you can easily update to any non-free version of SQL Server). SQL Server Compact edition is a inproc running database which does no need to be installed on the Server. SQL Server Express uses a Service running on the database server, if you are able to install services or use existing on your web server this option should be fine for you. SQL Express is not harder to learn than Access, see the following liknk to get an impression of the features and to get your feet wet:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/learning/default.aspx

Jens K. Suessmeyer

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

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thank you, this is exactly what i was looking for. any idea how many simultaneous connections MSSQL express can handle? i know Access handles 20.

thanks again,

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There is no technical limit to the number of connection that SQL Express can handle. SQL Express has the following limitations:

1 GB of memory

1 Processor socket

4 GB of user data per database