Do I have to use SQL Server?

Question

I am a long time programmer but I am new to web site designing. I want to create a web site that may have up to 5000 members. I find ASP.net with sql server makes creating a web site so easy. However Sql server express I think only allows 2GB of storage space and I will need more. To get more I will have to upgrade SQL server at a cost I do not want to pay until I know my site will kick off. In all my desktop applications that I have previously designed I have always preferred to make my own databases. Prefferably storing the data as objects. The databases I have designed were only for 1 user. I was wondering if it is possible to make my own database system on a web host without going the route of Sql server? I mean simply not programming a life-long project. Also what major obstacles would be in my path if I did so? I am asking this now so I do not get deeply involved in the project only to find out it is out of my league. Basically my site may have 5000 users. Each user will have a profile. Each user will add new information to the data base regularly. The Data base will process and send back statistical information. I appreciate any help thank you.

Roei Bar · Answer

no man you are confused... let me explain it again: 1. SQL Express is free 2. if you want to use SQL Server other then Express in your home you need to buy it. 3. if you host it like in GoDaddy or some other hosting company you can buy a package with SQL Server support and then you pay by the size of the DB and connections you need

Kirtan Patel · Answer

check out the rates of hosting here http://www.discountasp.net/features.aspx

Roei Bar · Answer

your most welcome my friend

Edward Nicholas · Answer

I did not know you can buy monthy packages like that. This is my first website. I thought I had to spend $5000 to by it. That makes me feel better. So I only need express and I have to pay a higher monthly web hosting rate for having Sql server access. I think I will take this route. I get easy design and manageability without having to fork out a large sum of money all at once. Thank you.

Edward Nicholas · Answer

Thank you both of you. You both have given me very much to think about. Pardon my ignorance in this matter. If I just had to make this site as a desk top application I would have no problems. I can go for Easier and more expensive SQL Server Or cheaper and more work mySQL. I will ponder this for a day or 2. Thanks

Edward Nicholas · Answer

Roei. You are saying that I can pay microsoft for sql server standard by the month. I design with express then when I go live I tell mircosoft and they set me up with standard and I pay by the month?

Roei Bar · Answer

my friend when i say cheaper i mean that in hosting everything takes money meaning that even the free MySQL will cost you money for the hosting of the DB. about PHP you can use many many DB just like in ASP.net oracle postgresqlMySQL and i believe there is a plugin for PHP to talk to MSSQL today as well

Kirtan Patel · Answer

Friend If you use PHP then Better to Use MySQL with It :) but development will be not so faster and easier then Asp.net

Edward Nicholas · Answer

Roei bar Thank you too for your help. I did check out that link and I saved it in my favorites. I thought making a web site would be cheap just a domain name and a web host. But figures Microsoft has the control here too. I will install mySql and see how it goes. You said mySql is cheaper than sql server. I thought mySql was free? Also what if I design a web site with PhP. What would I use then as a data base? Thank you both of you guys.

Roei Bar · Answer

you do know that for simple integration and dev you can still use Express when you go live take in the hosting SQL Server Standard. it will cost yuo 50-100$ per month tops

Edward Nicholas · Answer

Yes I think I am convinced. Do you think I can go lower than Standard edition though? thanks. I will check your checkmark.

Roei Bar · Answer

read the post i sent you you dont get full integration since the Login Control was built by MS. but you have a very nice explanation on howto do that in Mysql. dont forget that hosting will cost you a lot more in SQL Server than in Mysql. i do not recommend you to spend money before you get a head start start with mysql and once you see you can aford it transfer the code to work with SQL. if you build your CRUD wise enough than the application will not be changed only the DATA Access Layer.

Kirtan Patel · Answer

yesfriend better to stik with SQL Sever and sorry for my typing mistake .I m convincing you to buy SQL Server standard Edition :) Thank you :) and friend mark Do you like this answer if my answer helped you :)

Edward Nicholas · Answer

KIrtan.I think you are convincing me to stay with Sql. I do not know if I want to go through all the hassles of incorporating mySql when I want to get this site running as quick as possible. thank you.

Kirtan Patel · Answer

No Friend I would recommend you to buy SQL Server Standard Edition as yo have too many users (5000) because MySQL is not Fully Supported by Membership class you will get temporary support for MySQL+ASp.net but in future if n eed will arise to do complex tasks then it will be very difficult for you to get support for ASP.net + MYSQL to perform task on membership class and it will not Create Database Automatically lIke in SQL Server as its not fully integrated with SQL Server its Just Temporary Solution to Integrate MYSQL +ASP.net so better to Buy SQL Sever Standard Edition :) and Membership Class Uses GUID Like DataType that is Also not Available in Mysql :)

Edward Nicholas · Answer

Kirtan Thankyou for your reply. I thought Sql Server express had a limited amount of storage space. Are you saying that Sql server express will be good enough to use with 5000 users each taken up say 500 kb of space. The problem is that Sql Server Pro is very very expensive. I would first like to know if my site kicks off first before I invest that kind of money. Can I use the express edition and if my user numbers build up can I then Upgrade?

Edward Nicholas · Answer

Ok. So it can be automatically integrated into visual studios. I was meaning by my last comment that the CreateUSerWizard automatically makes a mdf file with all the fields and such. So if I connect mySql the createUSerWizard will now make a mySql database file?

Kirtan Patel · Answer

Friend  SQL Server Supports Membership Class but MySQL Does not have Membership Class Integration so you have to Create your own Membership class tables In your MySQL Database to Integrate with the asp.net membership class :) I would recommend you to use SQL Server as you don't have to do all this crappy work in SQL Server :) and as you told that you have 5000 users so it will be nice if you spend money to Buy SQL Server Standard Edition because if you use MySQL you will not get programming Support like SQL Server With Asp.net temperately you will get support for programming but if more complex programming need arise you will not get better supports as SQL Server for MySQL :) and in SQL Server Standard Edition Number of users is depended on the memory of your server computer so its no matter how many users are there who access the site :) Thank you :) if my answer helped you please check Do you like this answer  :)

Roei Bar · Answer

no mate. MySQL is a Database the login form that you have in the Visual Studio toolbox can connect to any db you want :-) via OLEDB or any other provider you can read on howto do that in here http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/mysqlmembershipprovider.aspx

Edward Nicholas · Answer

thank you for your help. Does this mySql have createUser wizards and such that work in visual studios or does everything have to be hard coded.

Roei Bar · Answer

well my friend it is optional all host allows access to the FileSystem like you can read web.config you can read and write to the Filesystem. the obstecals you will encounter are the permission levels all hosting farms are either working with .NET security on a very low level meaning your application will need modification for working on the .net security level that is required and second of all will be the performance since you are hosting you wont be able to load all 5000 users to memory meaning that you will need to IO for each user request. i can recommend you to move to developing against mySQL you get almost everything there is in SQL without the 2gb limitation and the writing syntax is not that differant.