Access or SQL Server?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter
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Peter

Hi,everybody,

I'm a newbie of .net, I've programed some database code with VB6 and Access
.. Now,I'm turning to vb.net and can't decide which database tool to use,
Access or SQL Server? Could somebody give me suggestions? Any suggestions
will be appreciated ?
 
Hi Peter,

SQL server or its free (make sure you read the licensing info) version MSDE
(same engine).
 
Access is fine for small desktop applications with a few users max. When you
move beyond this, it is wise to consider either MSDE (SQL Server Personal)
or SQL Server. Another potential reason to pick SQL Server (or MSDE) over
Access is the performance benefit, but I would not spend a lot of money if
perf is not an issue. Security is another reason. If the app is Internet
enabled, SQL Server with proper Security procedures is the way to go.
Availability is another potential reason, as you can cluster SQL Server for
failover.

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

************************************************
Think Outside the Box!
************************************************
 
Peter said:
Hi,everybody,

I'm a newbie of .net, I've programed some database code with VB6 and Access
. Now,I'm turning to vb.net and can't decide which database tool to use,
Access or SQL Server? Could somebody give me suggestions? Any suggestions
will be appreciated ?
Click to expand...

Peter, SQL Server wins without a doubt. Access shouldn't even be in the
contest. Think of Access as a single-user-only database for a very small
business! For example, Mom & Dad have a classic record store, and Mom does
all the recordkeeping on the computer, and Dad only deals with the product
itself. If your application will ever go beyond a
single-user-single-workstation model, don't even install Access on your
computer. Go right to MSDE or SQL Server.

MSDE is basically a "SQL Server Ultra-Lite". It's a free download from
Microsoft, you're very limited to the # of users that can simultaneously
connect, and you don't get SQL Server Enterprise Manager. All of your
database work needs to be done through straight T-SQL. MSDE is free, and I
believe that Microsoft allows it to be shipped with a production product- so
check the license agreement. That way you could sell your program to a
small 10-employee company, and they wouldn't have to buy SQL Server- chances
are their budget wouldn't allow it. But, you could also sell your product
to a 1000-employee company- who could afford (and would prefer!) SQL Server.
Your application would work with both- it wouldn't know the difference.

One warning though!! Make sure you change the "sa" user password after
installing MSDE!! That's the sys admin password; it's left blank as
default. If you leave it blank, you can be easily hacked. You should try
to install MSDE with your computer unhooked from the 'net, change the sa
password, and then reconnect your network.

We have applications at my company that do both. One department is very
small (about 5 employees), and they use MSDE 2000 on an old server. A much
larger department uses SQL Server on a newer box. For both servers, I
manually scripted the backup procedurs. I had no choice with MSDE. But
with SQL Server 2000, which allows fancy maintenance plans, I still chose to
script my own backup/maintenance manually. I believe that you used to be
able to download a trial version of SQL Server 2000, and it would let you
see what Enterprise Manager looks like. Also, http://www.asp.net has
written a web-based clone of SQL Server's EM, you can find it here
http://www.aspenterprisemanager.com/ . I'm not sure how secure their demo
is though, you might want to d/l the source and install it on your own box
first.

Try to forget anything you learned about Access! Go right to MSDE, and
never look at Access again. I could use it if I had to, but I won't, and
you won't see it on my resume.

Also, consider buying (or making) an old PC and turning it into a test
server. Don't install your database locally- this way, you'll get the
experience of connecting to a server. Even if the old PC just runs Win2k
and MSDE 2000 (SP3), it'll still simulate a real server.

Visit http://www.microsoft.com/sql and http://www.microsoft.com/sql/msde for
more info on both products.

Good luck!

-Thomas
 
I would still not recommend Access/JET for my parent's business. I think
there are too many serious issues that can cripple a small business that
MSDE/SQLExpress just deal with quickly, quietly and efficiently. Access is a
great tool for individuals and single-user databases--I use it myself for
several small databases. It's just not a good choice for business IMHO.

--
____________________________________
William (Bill) Vaughn
Author, Mentor, Consultant
Microsoft MVP
www.betav.com
Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
__________________________________
 
Good evening,

There is nothing wrong with using Access if you do the following:
1) Use it only as a database, no forms or reports.
2) Properly "tier" your code, don't mix database code with form code.
3) Keep the number of users small, less than five.

Otherwise, use SQL Server.

NOTE: Keep your eye on the SQL Server Express Beta. When Microsoft comes
out with an Enterprise Manager for SSEB, replace Access with it.

eWolverine
 
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