DB application off of a DVD

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DB application off of a DVD

vijju2k

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December 22, 2003 at 9:39 am

#83991

Hi,
Alrighty a stupid question, we have an online database application that uses SQL server 2000 as backend. Lately we have been discussing on developing a portable (carry around) concise version of this application for demonstration purposes.
So the idea came up, if we can somehow build a version, which can fit on a DVD. Is this possible?? Can we run a DB application off of a DVD??
Any or all the help will be greatly appreciated.
thank you all in advance,
v

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734459 More actions · Answer 1

You could, but the host server would still need sql installed and running. I suppose you could script a startup, but you'd still need the registry entries. SQL, however, can run a db off removable media.

Steve Jones

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vijju2k SSCommitted Points: 1531 More actions · Answer 2

Thank you Steve. Sounds encouraging. Is there any documentation I can read about to get a head start. I tried search on Micro$oft website, but with no luck so far. If you happen to know of any, can you fwd. them to me please.

thank you,

v

daveth SSC Journeyman Points: 87 More actions · Answer 3

Just off the top of my head: what about using MSDE (Micro$oft Data Engine) and put that on the DVD, along with everything else?

jcool SSC Eights! Points: 863 More actions · Answer 4

Maybe this will help a bit: I have seen instructions on how to attach a read only database to SQL Server, but I don't remember the details.

So you could have a normal SQL Server (or MSDE) installed on the machine and then your software could attach the database of DVD.

bnordberg SSCertifiable Points: 5379 More actions · Answer 5

I would be concerned about the speed of the app. DVD drives read much slower than hard drives ... - so your app may seem slow. I have had to do the same portability of apps and found I just had to dedicate a couple of laptops with SQL, IIS and be ready to slap a database on them at any moment.

vijju2k SSCommitted Points: 1531 More actions · Answer 6

Thanks alot for all the input you guys have provided. This will certainly give me a direction.

With respect to the speed of the application, I guess right now we are not too concerned about it. If we are able to make it portable we should be happy ;).

thank you and please let me know if you come across something,

v

vhanda SSCrazy Points: 2180 More actions · Answer 7

Spark up BOL and look for sp_create_removable in the index. This will present you with several topics on creating a db for usage on a cd-rom, dvd, etc...

Vik

PBirch SSCrazy Eights Points: 8493 More actions · Answer 8

Your best bet is the MSDE. You probably don't need to run Enterprise Manager, just the database engine.

Dr. Peter Venkman: Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.

Patrick

Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue

vijju2k SSCommitted Points: 1531 More actions · Answer 9

I just to have my database tables, so that I can query them using my front end application (ASP). I dont need enterprise manager/query analyzer.

NPeeters SSChampion Points: 12503 More actions · Answer 10

Did you think about using any kind of 'Virtual PC' software? This gives you the possibility to run a complete machine from a DVD (only need the virtual PC software installed). Once the image is set up, you don't need to worry about hardware conflicts, installed software, security issues, ...