I have written an UWP app for managing employees, timesheets etc.
How do I detect if SQL Server Express is installed and if not installed how do I setup SQL Server Express on the client computer? Is it possible to do it without running the exe file in 'fulltrust'?
I would also like to include the setup files in my app package with the configuration file to run a silent install on the client computer.
I have looked for a answer on many pages but could not find a real straight forward answer.
Some help here would be much appreciated.
when you have access to your client computer, you can run a check program in your setup process via checking if MS SQL Server Express registry key exists or not. If it exists, then it is installed.
Read this doc from Microsoft, there is a code snippet in the doc you can use:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/sql/sql-server-2005/express-administrator/bb264562(v=sql.90)?redirectedfrom=MSDN
What do you mean by 'auto-detect' MS SQL Server Express installed'? Not sure what's your use case here.
Normally, you can not auto detect database to use since in many cases there could be multiple databases installed in the environment, and you don't know which one is the right one you are going to use. You have to know which database you are going to use first.
However, if you insist to detect database, you can do the port scan in your network which is really not a good idea.
So guess maybe your use case is unique.
Related
I just done with programming client's application by SharpDevelop C# .. Now i need to install the software to customer ... What i need exactly to do?
I know some steps .. but i'm not sure if something is missing ..
1)Build Project to .exe
2)Move built project to client pc.
3)Move database to client pc. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I'm using MSSQL sqlexpress .. How to move the database to client pc?
4)change connection string in configuration file to suit the new changes.
5)installing the following in client pc:
SQL Server Management Studio
Net Framework
so my question is in number (5) how to move database ...
my 2nd question is anything missing that i have to do?
Thanks in advance..
I think your steps are qualified for many Winform Apps, so you can do it as your steps, then to test it on a new machine. if it works well, then you can do the same things on your clients' PCs.
in other kinds of apps, there may be other things to do, such as set environment variables, add register keys, and so on. but I think they are unnecessary to do them, so you just test as your steps.
about you asked how to move database, I usually copy the mdf file and ldf file together to clients' PCs, then attach them into SQLServer Management Studio.
good luck!
I'm writing an application in c# that uses SQL Server database for storage propose.
My question might be a bit silly, but yet I don't understand something..
I use a lot of application that use SQL Server for storage, but it looks like the DB is inside the application and installed in the installation process.
Does every time I use my SQL Server db in my application I need to install a SQL Server in my client's computer ?
Or can I somehow wrap my database in the installation ?
It looks a bit weird to me that a SQL Server must be installed in every computer I want to install the application on - although it uses a very simple database.
Maybe the solution is to use some other storage option ?
You can use a database like SQL Server CE or SQLite which doesn't require installing a server. It is just a single database file that is included with your program.
In teory you have to install only the client, but it is already installed in every Windows... You have just to config it. Run cliconfg on the command line. On 64 bit you have to choose which version (32 or 64 bit) to run
Usual practice for this kind of scenario is to provide user interface that would allow the client to enter server name and credentials with enough privileges.
I wouldn’t create an application that would automatically install SQL Server on client’s computer because that’s too intrusive.
Just provide a nice and clean user interface in the installation process and your clients will be able to do the rest.
Yes, there are options for SQL Server Compact Edition and other similar stuff but you’ll also have a ton of restrictions with these versions.
I need to create an application that does the following:
The application is going to be installed on multiple computers on the same network
There is going to be a computer that contains the database other computers will connect to that database. (So there is a server version of the software and a client version)
All the computers that have the application installed should be able to do CRUD (create, read,...) operations in the database.
Database will be small, that is it should be less than 1GB in size.
Problems that I have:
I don't know which database to use:
SQLite - From researching on the internet this seems like a great database. It is fast, very easy to deploy . The problem is that from researching I think it is not that good handling multiple connections. When I say multiple I mean 5 computers using the database simultaneously.
MySQL - I work with this database and I know it is great handling multiple connections. The problem with that database is that I don't know how I will be able to deploy that database. I am required to deploy a database when installing the software. I know that if I require the users to instal MySQL doing a separate installation that will work. Maybe there is a way of deploying MySQL when doploying a project in visual studio.
SQL Server Express - I believe this will be my best option. I have researched on the internet and I found out that it is possible to deploy a SQL Server Express database with a application. I believe it will be easy to figure out how to deploy such database with a project but it will be nice if someone can point me on the right direction on how to connect to that database remotely from a computer on the same network. The database will obviously be shared in the network in order to achieve this.
Microsoft Access Database - I never use this database. I know it can handle multiple connections. Maybe it is a good choice.
It will be nice if someone can point me on the right direction of how to be able to deploy a database when installing my application. Moreover how will I be able to connect to that database from a computer remotely on the same network. Since the database is small and it will just contain text I think that the best idea will be to keep the database on the internet but I cannot do that. The software is required to work without an internet connection.
EDIT
From looking at your answers it looks like I have to install SQL Server express or MySql on the server computer. The problem is that I am required to do one installation. Is there a way of deploying MySql or SQL Server Express when deploying my application. Perhaps I have to embed mysql in the application and make my application install it somehow. My boss want to be able to install the software without having a internet connection.
EDIT 2
I been thinking and this part will be very hard to implement. Do you guys have any ideas how QuickBooks implement their database? I guess I need something similar. When you install Quickbooks you perform just one installation. Quick-books handles pretty well simultaneous connections. Do they use their own database? Oracle? MySQL? I agree with all of you. It will be so easy to perform two installations. Also it will be cleaner. The software that I am creating is supposed to run on windows xp, and latter versions of windows.
If you want a dbms as your backend you are installing two things, It could look to the user like one thing, but I can tell you from bitter experience, that can be a lot of fun.
For instance to install 2005/ 2008 express, there are various prerequisites. Like a .net framework. Then there's patches and updates, then opening up the firewall(s), depends on set up. Different topology / os choices. Peer to peer, domain based, Active directory, Terminal Services, citrix.
So automagically installing without an internet connection, and using the installer for the db, is nigh on impossible, unless you have rigid control over the user environments.
Welcome to a world of hurt.
Oh did I mention permissions, shares, UAC, 32/64 bit (for sql server dmo and smo, maybe)
Do you want to block installs on "incompatible" environments.
Oh and what about upgrades. To the db, to your apps.
What if your client already has a server install and doesn't want to clutter up their kit with another...
and many many more.
And I bet you just can't wait to test all the potential combinations.
You haven't said what your target environments are going to be, so I can't say how many worms are in the tin, but its's very big time with plenty of room for lots of worms.
Ours is a long running legacy app, so we are pretty much snookered, I'd never willingly start with this design again though. Locally deployed web app would take a lot of the pain out of it.
Go back and scare the crap out of your boss.
I would recommend Sql Server Express installed on a server on your network.
Microsoft Access doesn't handle multiple simultaneous connections very well and is not very efficient when accessed from a remote machine.
You don't need to worry about deploying the database with your client application, you can install Sql Server Express directly on the server. (This only needs to be done once). You will need to configure Sql Server Express to accept remote connections after it is installed on the server.
SQLexpress supports multiple connections. So if you attach database on "server" computer you can than connect from clients same way as you would to local database.(provided those computers are in LAN or VPN).
Several articles on the Internet mention that SQLite is not that good handling multiple connections if all the connections are writing to the same database. I finally managed to deploy my application with SQL Server 2008 express. I also deployed my application with SQLite (downloaded the latest version for .NET framework 4). Since I plan to use this database just on a local network (LAN) I gave SQLite a try. I was impressed on how efficient SQLite was. I tested the Database by connecting with 4 computers symoltaniously and constantly writing data (inserts) to the database. No data was lost. When I did this with SQL express it was also very efficient and I could not tell a obvious difference. Maybe you get to see a real difference once there are 50 computers connected like on a web server for example.
Other nice things about SQLite are that it does not take time to deploy. Also there are no heavy services constantly running. I guess that SQLite is a better choice than SQL express. Moreover SQLexpress will only use 1 CPU and the database is limited to 2GB.
I am going to mist the Linq to SQL classes thought. They where very easy to implement with SQL Server Express. So in short I think that every database is good at something. And in this scenario I guess SQLite was a better option for me and for the users.
P.S.
I am interested in seeing how SQLite lattest version will hanle multiple connections compared to SQLexpress. I will try to test soon with more computers and each computer running multiple threads, each thread performing an insert in the database. maybe I,ll see a big difference with that scenario.
I have a database in SQL Server 2008. I want to deploy my software with CD.
I want to give end user 2 choices :Use from CD and install it.
When end user selects the "Use from CD", I don't want install program.
How can I do program execution without installing?
Please help me about this problem
Thank you for your attention.
The program is coded In C# in MS visual studio 2010.Database Management system is MS Sql Server 2008
Use an embedded database which requires no setup and in-process execution, in your case best option is probably SQL Server Compact Edition
Edit: I know there are also other alternatives like BrekleyDb or SQLite but since Atayi is using SQL Server right now for his database, I suggested SQL Server Compact Edition to avoid any issue and stay on essentially the same technology/platform.
Please help me about this problem
Don't use the technology you selected.
This is like saying "I want to drive a ferrari, but one that uses no fuel". Engines use fuel. SQL Server requires installation.
Alternative is SQL Server CE which you can load into the process.
THat is it. Run from CD is not possible without having SQL Server installed if you use SQL Server. Arguing wont change that.
First of all, I don't know if SQL Server '08 exists as a portable version, but if it burned on a cd, the use of a database is not there. The burned files cannot be changed :-)
A portable DBMS is SQLLite, there are bindings for C# :-)
You can "Silent Install " Sql server also, that way the client will not be bothered by the configuration of the server.
When running from CD - change database back-end - use simple Microsoft Access Db file with ADO ODBC connection. In such case - you will have almost same SQL language and no need to install something for access db (huh, maybe general odbc drivers if they not exists).
When running from HD - switch db backend to full-scale MS SQL server ...
How can I make a program use a SQL Server database, and have that program work on whatever computer it's installed on.
If you've been following my string of questions today, you'd know that I'm making an open source and free Help Desk suite for small and medium businesses.
The client application.
The client application is a Windows Forms app. On installation and first launch on every client machine, it'll ask for the address of the main Help Desk server.
The server.
Here I plan to handle all incoming help requests, show them to the IT guys, and provide WCF services for the Client application to consume.
My dilemma lies in that, I know how to make the program run on my local machine; but I'm really stumped on how to make this work for everyone who wants to download and install the server bit on their Windows Server.
Would I have to make an SQL Script and have it run on the MS SQL server when a user wants to install the 'server' application?
Many thanks to all for your valuable time and effort to teach me. It's really really appreciated. :)
Edit:
To clarify, each business will have their server completely separate from me. I will have no access whatsoever to them nor will they be in any way connected to me. (I don't know why I should clarify this :P )
So, assuming the have ABSOLUTELY NO DATABASE SERVER installed; what can I do?
Ok, part of the answer, dealing with the SQL Server Database (and frankly SQL Server Express will take you a long way - 4Gb of data) and the server install elements.
Firstly make installation of the SQL an SEP, make it a pre-requisite possibly tweak your installers to test (challenging) but substantially point them at the links to SQL Server express and let them get on with it).
Secondly separate installers, as suggested, for your client and your server elements.
Finally, how to build the database - I'd suggest using code to create and maintain (update) the schema i.e. once you have a connection to a server you can run code that calls DDL that does what is necessary (something like suggested here: How to create "embedded" SQL 2008 database file if it doesn't exist?)
A question - are you intending all communications from the clients to go through you WCF service?
Your install application should:
Obtain a SQL Server name, a username (with apprpriate rights to create a database) and password.
Either run SQL scripts using the locally installed command line tool or from code using SMO (for instance), against the user supplied server with the supplied credentials.
BTW, Before you expend effort writing an open-source help desk, have you checked what is already available? Also, Open Source Helpdesk
It is not so straightforward to deploy a client/server solution with an automatic installation.
You probably would then be better off to deploy your server installation together with a database engine and a skeleton database already setup according to your wishes. This is to avoid tampering too much with the existing server - who knows whats on it.
Also you say you want to install WCF services, well this would probably mean installing them on a customer server, in theory this shouldn't be a problem however in reality it could be, depending on what is previously on the server.
Do you want a single SQL Server instance running on your machine, or one on each of your customers' servers? If it's the latter, you'll want to install a SQL Server instance - anything from the (free, but limited and not open-source) SQL Server Express to a more expensive SKU - on each server. You can include this step in your server installation package; MSI installs make it very easy to bundle a MSSQL install.
Then you'll need to drop a schema, and maybe data, on the instance. You could do this as a step in your installer, or as part of your application setup process. It possible that a SQL Server instance, or more than one, might already be installed on the server, and your post-install step should allow the user to specify which instance on which to install your pieces.
Then, include a database configuration piece in your client application. Ask the user - or take from a configuration file at client install time, to allow for unattended or unprompted client installs - server connection details, like server name and authentication information.
A word on authentication - since you appear to be building Windows-based tools, use Windows integrated (domain-managed) authentication if at all possible. Don't get in the business of storing logins, but instead rely on the existing domain to manage logins. A good strategy is to use active directory groups to manage access. Grant access to a particular group in SQL Server, and defer group membership to Active Directory itself. If you can't gain the access necessary to do this, then grant permissions to AD user accounts themselves. Avoid creating SQL Server logins, the use of which open the door to some possible security problems.
I understand what you are trying to do. If I were you, I'd do the following:
Provide 2 downloads - 1 for client and 1 for server.
Forget about MS SQL Server and perhaps go with MySQL, since it really is open source. You could probably get away with using MS SQL Server Express Edition, but if your data set gets gigantic large (which is common with help desk databases), you'd be stuck.
As other people pointed out, on very first run (or at setup time), I'd have the client app locate the server.