Database/WebAccess

I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
database from the web.

I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather than on a
external server provided by a hosting company...I currently use small
business server 2000, does this have the capability to enable me to set up
web access directly through our own server?

If not, what would I require to do this?

Lanwench
Sun Nov 07 08:28:00 CST 2004

Steve_s wrote:
> I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
> database from the web.
>
> I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather
> than on a external server provided by a hosting company...I currently
> use small business server 2000, does this have the capability to
> enable me to set up web access directly through our own server?

Yes, but I don't recommend it. You really don't want to host a public
website on a LAN with a single server that's also your domain controller,
Exchange server, and so forth - it could be a big security risk as well as a
resource problem. I suggest that if you want this in-house you get another
server and put it in your DMZ, completely isolated from your AD domain. Or
do something easier and get an inexpensive hosting account with another
company.
>
> If not, what would I require to do this?

Kevin
Sun Nov 07 09:47:21 CST 2004

Steve, several issues -
Lanwench addressed the security issues involved. Beyond that, are you
wanting to use SQL to host this database? If so, the licensing on SBS2000
does not allow you to do that. But the licensing on SBS2003 does.

I believe Mariette may have an article on her www.smallbizserver.net web
site on this topic. In fact, at one time, she was working on having this web
site actually tie into a back end SQL database on her SBS server. Don't know
if she finished it, pulled the plug on it, or what.

--
Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]

"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"
"Steve_s" <Steve_s@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F351C355-4678-4202-A76D-94B0A3F46E3F@microsoft.com...
>I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
> database from the web.
>
> I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather than on
> a
> external server provided by a hosting company...I currently use small
> business server 2000, does this have the capability to enable me to set up
> web access directly through our own server?
>
> If not, what would I require to do this?
>
>

Steves
Sun Nov 07 13:01:01 CST 2004

I currently use an access database..but was considering changing this to SQL
server...thanks for the advice..much appreciated



"Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]" wrote:

> Steve, several issues -
> Lanwench addressed the security issues involved. Beyond that, are you
> wanting to use SQL to host this database? If so, the licensing on SBS2000
> does not allow you to do that. But the licensing on SBS2003 does.
>
> I believe Mariette may have an article on her www.smallbizserver.net web
> site on this topic. In fact, at one time, she was working on having this web
> site actually tie into a back end SQL database on her SBS server. Don't know
> if she finished it, pulled the plug on it, or what.
>
> --
> Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]
>
> "The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"
> "Steve_s" <Steve_s@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F351C355-4678-4202-A76D-94B0A3F46E3F@microsoft.com...
> >I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
> > database from the web.
> >
> > I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather than on
> > a
> > external server provided by a hosting company...I currently use small
> > business server 2000, does this have the capability to enable me to set up
> > web access directly through our own server?
> >
> > If not, what would I require to do this?
> >
> >
>
>
>

Steves
Sun Nov 07 13:05:02 CST 2004

Thanks for the advice...the reason I wanted to have the database in house was
for development issues...If I used a hosting company wouldnt I have to carry
out changes ona local database then upload to the server or would I be able
to carry out changes/upgrades online?



"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> Steve_s wrote:
> > I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
> > database from the web.
> >
> > I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather
> > than on a external server provided by a hosting company...I currently
> > use small business server 2000, does this have the capability to
> > enable me to set up web access directly through our own server?
>
> Yes, but I don't recommend it. You really don't want to host a public
> website on a LAN with a single server that's also your domain controller,
> Exchange server, and so forth - it could be a big security risk as well as a
> resource problem. I suggest that if you want this in-house you get another
> server and put it in your DMZ, completely isolated from your AD domain. Or
> do something easier and get an inexpensive hosting account with another
> company.
> >
> > If not, what would I require to do this?
>
>
>

Mariette
Sun Nov 07 13:36:36 CST 2004

In news:AD801758-0CC4-4E21-87EE-436C64F98BA2@microsoft.com,
Steve_s <Steves@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I currently use an access database..but was considering changing this
> to SQL server...thanks for the advice..much appreciated

Hi Steve,

That is a good idea! If you configure your network as described in:

Smallbizserver.Net > Home > About:
http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=145

You only need to open a port for SQL traffic.

--
Mariëtte Knap - MVP
http://www.smallbizserver.net
Take part in SBS forum:
http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=154

Lanwench
Sun Nov 07 16:05:54 CST 2004

Steve_s wrote:
> Thanks for the advice...the reason I wanted to have the database in
> house was for development issues...If I used a hosting company
> wouldnt I have to carry out changes ona local database then upload to
> the server or would I be able to carry out changes/upgrades online?

Depends what/how you do things. If this is for public use, I wouldn't want
it on my LAN - if it's a dev box only, there's no public access needed. :)
>
>
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> Steve_s wrote:
>>> I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access
>>> our database from the web.
>>>
>>> I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather
>>> than on a external server provided by a hosting company...I
>>> currently use small business server 2000, does this have the
>>> capability to enable me to set up web access directly through our
>>> own server?
>>
>> Yes, but I don't recommend it. You really don't want to host a public
>> website on a LAN with a single server that's also your domain
>> controller, Exchange server, and so forth - it could be a big
>> security risk as well as a resource problem. I suggest that if you
>> want this in-house you get another server and put it in your DMZ,
>> completely isolated from your AD domain. Or do something easier and
>> get an inexpensive hosting account with another company.
>>>
>>> If not, what would I require to do this?

Fred
Mon Nov 08 03:48:50 CST 2004


Steve,

All others have responded to the security and SQL server license
implications.

Regarding your synchronisation question of the local database with the
remote internet database question.
There are several strategies depended of the database of choice.

With Access probably the best way would be uploading and overwritten the
remote Internet database.
With SQL server you can define a Linked Server and write the necesssary
queries for synchronisarion and/or use Data Transactions Services.

We have a scheduled Visual Basic app that checks the local and remote
databases/records timestamp and updates, deletes or inserts only those
records changed. Thereby reducing the internet traffic against a higher
local CPU load. There are not a lot of MS Sql server providors and it therby
more expensive. Most support and host MySql server. I don't know MySql but
with an ODBC driver the same synchronisation can be achieved as with MS
Sql..

The database of choice also has a significant impact on your frontend.

Regards,
Fred Blum

"Steve_s" <Steves@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B0A89449-E672-45BF-AFDE-C6F964E5F203@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for the advice...the reason I wanted to have the database in house
> was
> for development issues...If I used a hosting company wouldnt I have to
> carry
> out changes ona local database then upload to the server or would I be
> able
> to carry out changes/upgrades online?
>
>
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> Steve_s wrote:
>> > I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
>> > database from the web.
>> >
>> > I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather
>> > than on a external server provided by a hosting company...I currently
>> > use small business server 2000, does this have the capability to
>> > enable me to set up web access directly through our own server?
>>
>> Yes, but I don't recommend it. You really don't want to host a public
>> website on a LAN with a single server that's also your domain controller,
>> Exchange server, and so forth - it could be a big security risk as well
>> as a
>> resource problem. I suggest that if you want this in-house you get
>> another
>> server and put it in your DMZ, completely isolated from your AD domain.
>> Or
>> do something easier and get an inexpensive hosting account with another
>> company.
>> >
>> > If not, what would I require to do this?
>>
>>
>>

Steves
Mon Nov 08 10:47:08 CST 2004

Thanks very much for your help Fred..I will look into Mysql...I would
probably have a VB front end foruse internally and I am considering
purchasing ASP.Net to handle the web front end, so hopefully would be
compatable with MYSql

Thanks
Steve


"Fred Blum" wrote:

>
> Steve,
>
> All others have responded to the security and SQL server license
> implications.
>
> Regarding your synchronisation question of the local database with the
> remote internet database question.
> There are several strategies depended of the database of choice.
>
> With Access probably the best way would be uploading and overwritten the
> remote Internet database.
> With SQL server you can define a Linked Server and write the necesssary
> queries for synchronisarion and/or use Data Transactions Services.
>
> We have a scheduled Visual Basic app that checks the local and remote
> databases/records timestamp and updates, deletes or inserts only those
> records changed. Thereby reducing the internet traffic against a higher
> local CPU load. There are not a lot of MS Sql server providors and it therby
> more expensive. Most support and host MySql server. I don't know MySql but
> with an ODBC driver the same synchronisation can be achieved as with MS
> Sql..
>
> The database of choice also has a significant impact on your frontend.
>
> Regards,
> Fred Blum
>
> "Steve_s" <Steves@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B0A89449-E672-45BF-AFDE-C6F964E5F203@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks for the advice...the reason I wanted to have the database in house
> > was
> > for development issues...If I used a hosting company wouldnt I have to
> > carry
> > out changes ona local database then upload to the server or would I be
> > able
> > to carry out changes/upgrades online?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
> >
> >> Steve_s wrote:
> >> > I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
> >> > database from the web.
> >> >
> >> > I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather
> >> > than on a external server provided by a hosting company...I currently
> >> > use small business server 2000, does this have the capability to
> >> > enable me to set up web access directly through our own server?
> >>
> >> Yes, but I don't recommend it. You really don't want to host a public
> >> website on a LAN with a single server that's also your domain controller,
> >> Exchange server, and so forth - it could be a big security risk as well
> >> as a
> >> resource problem. I suggest that if you want this in-house you get
> >> another
> >> server and put it in your DMZ, completely isolated from your AD domain.
> >> Or
> >> do something easier and get an inexpensive hosting account with another
> >> company.
> >> >
> >> > If not, what would I require to do this?
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Steves
Mon Nov 08 12:04:13 CST 2004

Hi Fred

You also mentioned that you had an app wichh helped sync databases on the
web...where can I see details of this??

Steve


"Fred Blum" wrote:

>
> Steve,
>
> All others have responded to the security and SQL server license
> implications.
>
> Regarding your synchronisation question of the local database with the
> remote internet database question.
> There are several strategies depended of the database of choice.
>
> With Access probably the best way would be uploading and overwritten the
> remote Internet database.
> With SQL server you can define a Linked Server and write the necesssary
> queries for synchronisarion and/or use Data Transactions Services.
>
> We have a scheduled Visual Basic app that checks the local and remote
> databases/records timestamp and updates, deletes or inserts only those
> records changed. Thereby reducing the internet traffic against a higher
> local CPU load. There are not a lot of MS Sql server providors and it therby
> more expensive. Most support and host MySql server. I don't know MySql but
> with an ODBC driver the same synchronisation can be achieved as with MS
> Sql..
>
> The database of choice also has a significant impact on your frontend.
>
> Regards,
> Fred Blum
>
> "Steve_s" <Steves@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B0A89449-E672-45BF-AFDE-C6F964E5F203@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks for the advice...the reason I wanted to have the database in house
> > was
> > for development issues...If I used a hosting company wouldnt I have to
> > carry
> > out changes ona local database then upload to the server or would I be
> > able
> > to carry out changes/upgrades online?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
> >
> >> Steve_s wrote:
> >> > I am trying to formulate a strategy to enable customers to access our
> >> > database from the web.
> >> >
> >> > I think it would be preferable to have the database inhouse rather
> >> > than on a external server provided by a hosting company...I currently
> >> > use small business server 2000, does this have the capability to
> >> > enable me to set up web access directly through our own server?
> >>
> >> Yes, but I don't recommend it. You really don't want to host a public
> >> website on a LAN with a single server that's also your domain controller,
> >> Exchange server, and so forth - it could be a big security risk as well
> >> as a
> >> resource problem. I suggest that if you want this in-house you get
> >> another
> >> server and put it in your DMZ, completely isolated from your AD domain.
> >> Or
> >> do something easier and get an inexpensive hosting account with another
> >> company.
> >> >
> >> > If not, what would I require to do this?
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>