Anyone here know anything about databases?

[Shawn]

I have no idea if this is off topic enough or not or where this this should go so mods move if approperate.

I just started using MS SQL for my forums but I dunno if that's a good idea. My host now provides it at no extra charge but some hosts charge extra. Would it be any better than MySQL for a forum? Also does anyone know how to access it remotely like you can with MySQL using phpmyadmin? Or does this vary by host?

Also I may decide to just drop my host and host my site off my dsl. I know I can run the forums with MS Access extremely easily using just IIS and the drivers that come with it but Access is so slow! How hard would it be to set up MySQL on my rig?

 

[KLin]

All the answers

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: KLin
All the answers

Sorry, I don't think this would fit there. AT doesn't really have a category for hosting.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: KLin
All the answers

I don't think this would fit there.

Yes it would. You are asking a software question.

 

[ajpa123]

I think databases are slang for the rear end of a person who has a lot of junk in their trunk.

 

[tami]

get a linux box and set it up. however, it's not advisable and your bandwidth will be sucked up.

if MS SQL works, go with it. we use it at our company and it works fine but it's a pain to maintain the code that goes with it (i guess that's what you get when you see the development side of things). if you want to run your forums using something php based, try phpbb.

 

[five40]

Ummm...access??? Access sucks if you start to get 10+ users (unless the DB is real real small). And on your own DSL? What kind of upload speed do you have?

 

[FoBoT]

mySQL is easy to install, even on windows

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: five40
Ummm...access??? Access sucks if you start to get 10+ users (unless the DB is real real small). And on your own DSL? What kind of upload speed do you have?

tell me about it. I was using it on a forum with 300 members and over 100,000 messages.

I forget what up upload is. somewhere around 50kb/s.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
mySQL is easy to install, even on windows

That's what I figured. So mysql is my best bet?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: tami
get a linux box and set it up. however, it's not advisable and your bandwidth will be sucked up.

Also most likely against his ISP's TOS.

if MS SQL works, go with it. we use it at our company and it works fine but it's a pain to maintain the code that goes with it (i guess that's what you get when you see the development side of things). if you want to run your forums using something php based, try phpbb.

Sounds like that's more an issue of people not being very familiar with it.

OP, a PHP/MySQL forum should be fine for you.

 

[Shawn]

Well I already have the forum software. so I should just delete the database and start over with mysql?

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Well I already have the forum software. so I should just delete the database and start over with mysql?

I'd probably go with mysql. I use both MS SQL and mysql on a daily basis and I'd take mysql. Not to mention if you ever get big enough and have your own server(s) you won't need to buy any MS SQL copies and you won't be tied to windows. So you could run all free software vs. having to pay for everything.

 

[RossMAN]

Shawn - PM me with your AIM/MSN/GoogleTalk

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: five40

Originally posted by: Shawn
Well I already have the forum software. so I should just delete the database and start over with mysql?

I'd probably go with mysql. I use both MS SQL and mysql on a daily basis and I'd take mysql. Not to mention if you ever get big enough and have your own server(s) you won't need to buy any MS SQL copies and you won't be tied to windows. So you could run all free software vs. having to pay for everything.

You have a good point about not being able to run it under Linux (although moving the data should be relatively painless if the event arises), but I'm surprised you'd pick choose MySQL over SQL Server when you use both on a daily basis. The graphical tools provided by SQL server are much better than phpMyAdmin.

shawn, does the forum software you're using even support MySQL? And what is it written in? If it's written in ASP, then moving it to a linux host is a non-issue.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: tami
get a linux box and set it up. however, it's not advisable and your bandwidth will be sucked up.

Also most likely against his ISP's TOS.

possibly, if for commercial use. my ISP blocks port 80 but i run a private webserver on another port for testing purposes. i primarily use my hosting accounts nowadays though.

 

[crystal]

Originally posted by: tami
get a linux box and set it up. however, it's not advisable and your bandwidth will be sucked up.

if MS SQL works, go with it. we use it at our company and it works fine but it's a pain to maintain the code that goes with it (i guess that's what you get when you see the development side of things). if you want to run your forums using something php based, try phpbb.

It is been awhile, but don't SQL Server required you to buy a license?
Anyway, just download mySQL and you all set.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: tami

possibly, if for commercial use. my ISP blocks port 80 but i run a private webserver on another port for testing purposes. i primarily use my hosting accounts nowadays though.

Possibly even for personal use, but they'll never notice if you don't have a lot of traffic.

 

[SagaLore]

I think as far as stability, MS SQL is better than MySQL - but I don't know what the performance comparison is.

If you want to switch hosts in the future, you're going to be limited, most will not offer MS SQL (especially as a free service).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: crystal

It is been awhile, but don't SQL Server required you to buy a license?
Anyway, just download mySQL and you all set.

Yes it does, and for good reason...

You make a good point though. There are a few no/low-cost options:
MSDE - essentially SQL Server, but lacking the development tools that come with it. Also limited to 2 GB, and peformance suffers one you get over 5 concurrent connections.
SQL Server Developer Edition (or something to that effect) - full-featured SQL Server for about $40, but it's only licensed for personal development use... you can't legally use it in a production environment.