MSSQL Hosting Provider

Web hosting providers that offer Windows web hosting services will normally offer the ability to create at least one Microsoft SQL Server database for your website, which is one thing that will help make them an MSSQL hosting provider. Microsoft SQL Server databases can be used in conjunction with Microsoft web development technologies but can also be used individually for the storage of data in one central location to that it can then be accessed from any computer. Microsoft SQL Server is Microsoft’s flagship SQL database server and is used by many businesses and individuals who wish to have a database driven website instead of having to use static HTML web pages. Some experience and knowledge is normally needed if you want to use a Microsoft SQL database since you need to know a specific Microsoft programming language if you wish to integrate your database into your website, but in general need to know how to manage an SQL database. Microsoft SQL databases in some cases have to be purchased separately, and unlike MySQL databases aren’t free to use; although some web hosting providers make use of Microsoft’s free Express editions of its database systems, some still use the Standard and Enterprise versions which cost money because of licensing.

Microsoft SQL Server is Microsoft’s SQL server, other examples of SQL database servers being MySQL server and PostgreSQL server. SQL database servers are used by businesses and individuals with large websites who need a central location to store all their data in as well as a scalable database solution that can handle high loads and usage. Although there are other forms of database application around, such as desktop database applications, SQL database servers present a reliable and scalable solution for those who need secure database hosting solutions. MSSQL hosting providers may be able to offer you many advantages, just as long as their infrastructure is secure and stable enough to cope with high demand; such advantages may include:

• reliable servers – MSSQL web hosting providers generally use high specification servers in order to ensure that your databases will always be accessible – Microsoft SQL Server can be a resource intensive application meaning that powerful servers are required to ensure that Microsoft SQL Server is able to run without crashing – the higher the version of Microsoft SQL Server which is being used the higher the basic resources need to be
• Standard and Enterprise Editions – some web hosting providers will only install the Express Edition of Microsoft SQL Server on their web hosting servers meaning that you will face many limitations as a user of it; however, if you choose an MSSQL hosting provider then they are likely to be using either the Standard or Enterprise Editions of the most recent relase of Microsoft SQL Server, which at current is 2008
• clustered SQL hosting services – in some cases you may find that your Microsoft SQL databases are being hosted in a cluster which basically means that there are several servers setup for the one task of serving Microsoft SQL Server databases – this does however provide you with greater reliability since it means that there will always be at least one server available to meet your requirements.

Ensuring that you have access to a reliable MSSQL web hosting service is important, especially if you are a business, since a database can form the core of your website and even if your website is hosted elsewhere it won’t work if the database server isn’t working. If you plan on storing large amounts of data in your database then you should also ensure that your MSSQL web hosting provider is using higher end Editions of Microsoft SQL Server since Express Editions have a size limit of 4GB per database.

Microsoft SQL Server is used to power the core of many websites, but in order for these websites to work with Microsoft SQL databases they have to be coded at first using a Microsoft server side scripting language, examples of which include classic ASP and ASP.NET. Although dynamic websites have been used for many years now, Microsoft only launched its only scripting language and database system around 10 years ago meaning that such Microsoft tools and products have taken longer to become as popular as they are now. Other forms of database application produced by Microsoft include Microsoft Access, which is a desktop database solution which can be integrated into websites using Microsoft server side languages. As a web developer, you may find that using Microsoft tools and products to produce dynamic server side websites can offer you the following benefits:

• easier development – if you choose to use Microsoft tools such as Visual Studio and Visual Web Developer, you can easily create dynamic websites built on ASP.NET that can be used with Microsoft SQL Server databases since such applications provide you with code hints as well as helpful tutorials which will help you develop your website to work in a reliable MSSQL and ASP.NET web hosting environment
• easier integration – Visual Studio and Visual Web Developer will allow you to create a database locally on your machine so that you can test your website or application locally without having to upload it to a live production environment where it may be viewable by others – this is done with the use of Microsoft SQL Server installed locally, which will also allow you to create other databases for other uses if needs be
• easier production – when it comes to uploading your ASP.NET/MSSQL based website to a live production environment you can again use Visual Studio or VWD for your needs since both also include an FTP client that will connect to your Windows web hosting account and will transfer your files from your local machine to your web space for you.

As you can see, using Microsoft tools such as Visual Studio and VWD can make website production a much easier experience for you since all aspects are more or less taken care of, including the uploading of any Microsoft SQL Server databases which you have created to use with your newly created website.

As with any kind of web related service, you will want to be able to manage what you have purchased with ease and without hassle. As long as you have chosen an MSSQL hosting provider which has a good reputation, you should be able to manage your Microsoft SQL Server databases using a number of methods which are easy for many to use. Web based control panels are now offered by more or less every website hosting provider for most services that they offer, and Microsoft SQL Server Hosting is no exception to this as we will discuss in a moment. Although web browsers may present an easy way of managing your databases, it might not be the most secure meaning that you can also use Microsoft desktop tools for your needs. The main methods of Microsoft SQL Server database management include:

• ASP.NET Enterprise Manager – this application is included as standard with the Plesk control panel and will alow you to manage all the Microsoft SQL Server databases that you have created under your MSSQL web hosting account from any web browser using your login credentials – if you have chosen to purchase a Windows web hosting account then this will be accessible through your web hosting control panel
• Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio – this is a free tool which is provided by Microsoft for the management of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2008 databases – the application can be freely downloaded from the Microsoft website, and as long as you know your server details and login credentials, you are set to go once you have it installed
• custom built web interface – if you have built a dynamic website using ASP.NET to interact with your database then the likelihood if that you have also built some sort of web administration area which can be used to manage your website – you can also use this administration area to manage the different areas of your database.

There are many ways in which you can effectively manage your Microsoft SQL database, and all three methods should be usable just as long as you have purchased your Microsoft SQL Server hosting from a reputable MSSQL hosting provider. Since all methods can be used freely, no charges should be incurred if you wish to manage your own database. It is important that you regularly maintain your database as you don’t want to end up with unneeded records that could be taking up vital space.

In conclusion, Microsoft SQL Server hosting provides businesses and individuals alike with scalable but reliable database hosting solution that can be relied upon as and when needed. If you are a web developer then you can easily make use of a reputable MSSQL hosting provider to build a website which is based on an MSSQL database that is being hosted by them. Since there are many different methods that you can make use of to managed your Microsoft SQL Server databases, you can almost guarantee that most people will be able to manage such a database.