Access 2000 and MSDE

[romh]

I was thinking about upgrading from Jet to MSDE. Microsoft states that it will run well up to 5 users. Has anybody tried using it with say 6-10 users? How does it run?
I have a network with 6-7 users and I do not want to spend the money for SQL server. But if I have to, I have to.

Thanks
Rom

 

[lameid]

Never used MSDE but...

The 5 user limit is a licensing restriction (which I'm betting is built into MSDE). It is also a 5 CONCURRENT user limit which means only 5 users can use it at the same time not that only 5 different people can use it. So, depending on how many people need to use it concurrently, you may get away with MSDE. Interestingly enough, if you need MSDE over Jet it probably means you need SQL Server's superior record locking and performance whereas Jet only has practical user restrictions... Jet may be a cheaper way to go, depending on your application.

Also remember that MSDE is SQL Server with out the server tools and a user limit. That means you have to apply patches. SPIDA and SLAMMER worms prey on unpatched systems.

 

[romh]

Awesome advice. I hadn't considered those issues before (about the worms and the 5 user restriction). I would like to stay with Jet but the database will be connected 24 hours to a web site that uses ASP, and in the future it wil probably be connected to 3 o 4 remote locations. Furthermore, I think I could get some performance increase by having the database server perform the queries. So I might just have to use SQL Server.
Have you used SQL server before?

Thanks

 

[MichaelRed]

MSDE -as stated- IS SQL Server, so the performance is ALREADY there. What is missing is the tools (T-SQL, et al)


MichaelRed
m.red@att.net

Searching for employment in all the wrong places

 

[lameid]

I've not used SQL Server as the backend to an Access database. I'm hoping to jump from ACC97 to ACC2002 and start using SQL Server. I have queried SQL server via ODBC and Access 97. There are some differences between the Access SQL and SQL Server SQL but that's not too bad. There is a ton of differences in functions. I'm not sure how well the newer versions of Access help with this. But I'm going to be looking into it.

Because MSDE is SQL server, you will likely want to start out with MSDE for cost reasons and then move to SQL server for licensing issues. Although there is a lot to be said for the tools you get when you buy the full version. Here's a tip if you start with MSDE... Use the SQL server tools on your MSDE installation to perform the data transfer (DTS-Data Transformation Services) once you buy SQL server and need to migrate.