As a small non-profit we have been developing a web based
application to be hosted by a 3rd party hosting company.
We have been using MSDE for development, but do not have
a license for SQL server ourselves since our hosting
package includes access to a per-server licensed SQL
server. How can we transfer our MSDE designed database to
our hosted database without buying our own SQL server
licence? It would be very hard for us to justify the
licensing costs of SQL server.

BACKUP/RESTORE will do it quite nicely

--

Allan Mitchell MCSE,MCDBA, (Microsoft SQL Server MVP)
www.allisonmitchell.com - Expert SQL Server Consultancy.
www.SQLDTS.com - The site for all your DTS needs.
I support PASS - the definitive, global community
for SQL Server professionals - http://www.sqlpass.org


"Paul Shaddick" <anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

It would if our hosting company gave us rights to do
backup/restore, unfortunately it seems I can backup but
not restore.

So you can BACKUP your local instance of MSDE
You cannot RESTORE to your ISP

Correct?

Will they not do that for you ?

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=207809

If you are using SQL Server 7 then the above will affect you and seeing as I
doubt you will be able to convince them to change the licencing mode it
could be difficult to use DTS here.

I do not move data between MSDE and "Big" SQL Server so am unsure if this
restriction is still in place in 2000.

What version are you running/they running?

--

Allan Mitchell MCSE,MCDBA, (Microsoft SQL Server MVP)
www.allisonmitchell.com - Expert SQL Server Consultancy.
www.SQLDTS.com - The site for all your DTS needs.
I support PASS - the definitive, global community
for SQL Server professionals - http://www.sqlpass.org


<anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

In message <096101c3d521$2f964480$a501280a (AT) phx (DOT) gbl>, Paul Shaddick
<anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> writes
The simplest method would be to use SQL scripts to create the objects
and insert any data you require. Using scripts is also one of the best
methods for release and change management.

DTS would be useful to transfer the data on an ongoing basis. MSDE
normally ships with Dts, which you can can use via the object model, but
building packages would be a lot simpler with a copy of Enterprise
Manager. For this you could use a copy of SQL Server Developer Edition,
and at 49 USD or about the same in most other currencies, I don't think
it is too expensive even for low cost outfits, especially when you
consider the time it could you during development.

--
Darren Green (SQL Server MVP)
DTS - http://www.sqldts.com

PASS - the definitive, global community for SQL Server professionals
http://www.sqlpass.org

Thanks Allan I appreciate your thoughts.

Answers/comments inserted below

Yes, I can even BACKUP the hosted database, but do not
have the exclusive rights necessary to restore to it.

while by special request. However the hosting package
only includes a single database so I am using it for
intranet content management as well. So I could really do
with the selective copy/move capabilities of DTS.

I have the Enterprise Manager tools through a trial
download version of SQL server - The engine expires but
the tools don't.

knowledge base article describes my problem. They say
they are planning to upgrade 'soon' but I have no idea if
the restriction will still be in place.

Thanks Darren,

I must say moving to using SQL Server technology rather
than Access databases is certainly a steep learing curve,
especially when trying to get by without paying a fortune
for the full set of tools. Microsoft encourage the little
people like me in this direction by giving away MSDE and
it's only when we get half way up the mountain that we
realise that it shouldn't be done without major
investment in mountaineering equipment!

I think I can auto-generate the SQL scripts to build the
data structures, but my SQL isn't really up to doing much
in the way of moving the 'fixed' data required by the
application. Or are DTS packages basically SQL scripts
which I could copy text from and run manually?

I currently use DTS and Enterprise Manager through a
trial download of SQL server - the tools don't seem to
expire.

I'd be happy to buy a copy of the Developer Edition if I
was sure it would enable me to use DTS on the hosted
database. I would also feel more comfortable that my copy
of Enterprise Manager was legitimate. Can anyone confirm
that this would solve my problem?

Seeing as the "Licencing" issue affects you I am not sure that you are going
to be able to work through this with DTS for the reasons mentioned.

--

Allan Mitchell MCSE,MCDBA, (Microsoft SQL Server MVP)
www.allisonmitchell.com - Expert SQL Server Consultancy.
www.SQLDTS.com - The site for all your DTS needs.
I support PASS - the definitive, global community
for SQL Server professionals - http://www.sqlpass.org


"Paul Shaddick" <anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

In message <07bc01c3d604$ec052800$a001280a (AT) phx (DOT) gbl>, Paul Shaddick
<anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> writes
insert statements from existing table data.

e.g.

http://www.rac4sql.net/qalite_main.asp



use Dts to deploy data to the hosting server. For an accurate answer
contact your local MS Office and ask for the licensing dept.


--
Darren Green (SQL Server MVP)
DTS - http://www.sqldts.com

PASS - the definitive, global community for SQL Server professionals
http://www.sqlpass.org