Hosting a SQL2k5 Outside

[seaport]

I am thinking about upgrading my SQL2k5 server to a new SQL2K8 server. Before investing on a new server, I wonder whether I should host the server on the cloud.

This is a small office with less than 20 users. The SQL server is used both by the office and infrequent online users. The office internet connection is T1, and I have several Access applications using ODBC-linked-table approach connecting to the SQL Server.

I do not thinking hosting the SQL server outside is feasible now because first, I had a hard time finding a hosting company that allows a VPN connection between the SQL server and my Office; and second, my Access applications will be affected negatively because of the slow T1 connection (compared to the LAN connection).

Am I right on this?

Is hosting SQL server a popular option for small businesses?

 

[mrdenny]

Based on what you've said, hosting in the cloud probably isn't going to work for you.

Now that said, if you convert the access front end into an ASP.NET web application you could put both in the cloud and speed would probably be ok. The speed would basically be the same speed that users see when they browse the web.

Denny
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[seaport]

Thanks Denny.

My Access applications are mostly office automation (Access-Word-Excel). So I will keep them that way.

I am still curious whether hosting SQL server in the cloud a popular option for small businesses. Any place I can find some statistics?

 

[mrdenny]

There probably aren't a whole lot of statistics out there. I know that Microsoft doesn't publish any numbers about how many clients they have using SQL Azure (neither does Amazon for EC2, etc).


Denny
MVP
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
MCITP (SQL 2005 DBA / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2005 DBD / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 BI)

My Blog