Connecting to Multiple Databases - Performance Recommendation Please

[JSDNUK]

Hey DB people...

Does anyone know if it is better as a general rule (server performance wise anyway) to connect to a single database with many tables or multiple databases with fewer tables??

In this case I have a small calendar database and large navigation/metadata database -- both are MS Access & connected to the same ASP page.

Can anybody make a recommendation here??

Many Thanks!!

 

[johnherman]

As usual, the answer is "It Depends". It depends on ths speed of your network (interconnnectabilty between servers and databases). It depends on the degree of optimization of the tables with respect to indexes, partitions, etc. It depends on whether the server and/or databases are distributed. It depends on the underlying disk structure (ordinary disk or disk array). It depends on how much data is moving around and being joined. And probably another half dozen things that aren't jumping in front of me at this moment.

However, generally, it's better to be inside one server than across a network with respect to the speed of data movement.

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