I developing the installation msi for our .net 2.0 windows forms
application.
The app permits the use of either express or standard edition on the
desktop.

Our app will be used by 75% users in the corporate world and
25% at home (rough guess).

In past experience with MSDE and Express, I've seen lots of
configuration and security issues arise as well as system admin
concerns about which sp is permitted and so on. I also don't
want to force an install of Express if the user already has
Standard.

I'm currently strongly considering requiring the user to have
sql server installed prior to running our .msi and not dealing
with the sql server requirement ourselves.

Anyone have a fair amount of experience installing sql server
as part of an application install and wish to comment on whether
they think this is a good idea or not?

--
Robbe Morris [Microsoft MVP - Visual C#]
..NET PropertyGrid Control - ListBox, ComboBox, and Custom Classes
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials...d-control.aspx

Rob,

Loading SQL Express has become a lot easier than the MSDE installs. Have a
look at these Express related articles first before making a decision like
that. It was designed just for the type of scenario you mention.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345154.aspx Express Overview
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165672.aspx Comparing Express
with MSDE
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb264564.aspx User Instances
http://betav.com/blog/billva/2006/06...connected.html
Getting & Staying Connected
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345318.aspx Tutorial on
connecting
http://www.datamasker.com/SSE2005_NetworkCfg.htm Configuring Express
for Remote Access
https://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/ar...05/415084.aspx
Configuring Remote Access
http://www.kbalertz.com/Feedback_914277.aspx Configuring SQL2005 for
remote access
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb264562.aspx Embedding Express in
Apps
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
SSMS Express
http://blogs.msdn.com/rogerwolterblo...13/575974.aspx
Backing up Express

--
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
Solid Quality Mentors


"Robbe Morris - [MVP] C#" <info@eggheadcafe.com> wrote in message
news:ehLEGTPDIHA.3884@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I developing the installation msi for our .net 2.0 windows forms
>application.
> The app permits the use of either express or standard edition on the
> desktop.
>
> Our app will be used by 75% users in the corporate world and
> 25% at home (rough guess).
>
> In past experience with MSDE and Express, I've seen lots of
> configuration and security issues arise as well as system admin
> concerns about which sp is permitted and so on. I also don't
> want to force an install of Express if the user already has
> Standard.
>
> I'm currently strongly considering requiring the user to have
> sql server installed prior to running our .msi and not dealing
> with the sql server requirement ourselves.
>
> Anyone have a fair amount of experience installing sql server
> as part of an application install and wish to comment on whether
> they think this is a good idea or not?
>
> --
> Robbe Morris [Microsoft MVP - Visual C#]
> .NET PropertyGrid Control - ListBox, ComboBox, and Custom Classes
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials...d-control.aspx
>
>
>
>