sql server 2000 limitations

[cbrumett]

I have a couple questions, I work for a software company whose software references our sql server 2000 database over the Internet and over the LAN, it runs on a Dell 600 MHZ with 256 meg of RAM, over a DSL line. The problem we're having is that internally sometime our software cannot connect to the database, but when we re-boot it works fine. After a while the same thing happens again. We're running fast ethernet with no slow down when browsing the Internet or the LAN, only with the database connection. We're looking at all possible solutions, and I need to know where limitations os sql 2000 come in. Limitations like when it reaches CPU capacity, or when the outside connections are taking control on the database and not letting the internal people connect. Maybe even limitations on the LAN. If it's not a sql server problem, what (and when) and how do you tell when your overloading your sql server? In the same areas as above, how can you tell when you've reached it's limitations and need to replicate and load balance. Any help at all will be greatly appriciated.