What main functionality would I miss out on?

[JJ]

I wanted to run mySQL server as a back end to my web site(s), running on
win2k3 with asp2.0 . Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be possible as
there is no 'connector' available to connect the asp site to the database.

I am looking at using SQL server express as a second option but that seems
to have some limitations regarding backup the database, which I need to look
into and solve.

The alternative is to run .net 1.1 on the server and use mySQL and the
available 'connector' for that version. The questions are:

1. What main functionality would I be missing out on if I used the older
..net on my ASP web site?
2. How easy would it be to upgrade to the asp2.0 if/when the connector for
mySQL becomes available?
3. Does anyone know about the apparent limitation of SQL 2005 express - I am
told that in order to backup or synchronise the database I'd need to use
live backups or log shipping. Apparently SQL Express doesn't do either.
Anyone else any experience on this?
4. I notice the SQL server express's main limitation (please correct me if I
am wrong) is that its database size is limited to 4GB. I can't see any such
limitation on 'connections'. I don't _think_ that the 4gb limitation should
be a problem for my small business web sites, that is, _assuming_ I am
correct in assuming this limitation is for EACH database and not all
currently running databases under that SQL application?


Hopefully someone can advise.....

JJ

 

[Robbe Morris [C# MVP]]

I'm pretty sure using SQL Express in a web environment would
be a violation of their license. You'd be using this in a multi-user
commerical environment.

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/default.mspx

 

[JJ]

Robbe,
You may be right, but I have to say that its not easy to find out whether
thats the case. And virtually ALL the examples I've come across on the
internet of using SQL Express is in a web environment - so clearly there are
a lot of people who are confused about the licensing.

Besides, I seem to be finding that there are some ways to connect mySQL to
asp .net 2.0 based web sites - even though there are at a cost (e.g.
http://crlab.com/mysqlnet/).

If you look at this comparison of all the commonly used basic databases you
have to choose from, its clear that SQL Express is not necessarily the best
choice:
http://www.builderau.com.au/archite...r_databases_tested/0,39024547,39224962,00.htm


I think I'll find a connector for mySQL - then I know I'm not having any
license issues, and I won't run up against any limitations (like the 4GB
database size) as my clients databases grow.

Thanks,

JJ