dsn-less connection

Howard_hc

Hi all,

I have just started learning php and the whole reason im learning it is because i need to make a database driven site.

I have not installed php on my computer but i am using a fasthosts account and just uploading changes with ftp and checking them online.

I dont really have the money to pay for an mssql database and I was wondering if there is a way to connect to a different kind of database like mdb or something.

I hear that connecting to an mdb database is slow and clunky and i am hoping for the site to get rather big so what is the best thing to do?

If I have to pay for an mssql database then i guess i will have to but is there any other way?

cheers

AstroTeg

If you're looking to stick with a Microsoft solution AND you want a database that can handle your web traffic, you'll have to fork over the cash and get MS SQL server. Access is for 1-8 users ONLY. Anything more than that and it randomly breaks (I'm figuring you plan to have more than 8 people on your site at a time).

Your other option is to look into other database solutions. You might check out MySQL or PostgreSQL. If you are used to the functionality of MS SQL server, than I'd recommend going with PostgreSQL.

Howard_hc

I have been told that mssql is better for windows servers and mysql better for lynux.

I am not to sure but i think mine is a windows 2003 server.

Would there be a problem with using mysql on a windows server?

also how easy is it to connect to an mysql database and how many people can it handle at a time?

Do you know what sort of databases large sites like deviantart.com use?

I am hoping for this site to get VERY big and I want something that will handle large amounts of users accesing the database at once.

cheers

superwormy

MySQL or PostgreSQL will more than likely be able to handle anything you can throw at them.

And they're free.

You'll probably have trouble finding a Windows host that supports MySQL or PostgreSQL, though it is certaintly possible.

A better bet would be to find another hosting service, say PHPWebHosting.com or something, that, for $100 a year, gives you MySQL, PHP, Apache, and lots of disk space.

AstroTeg

Originally posted by Howard_hc
I have been told that mssql is better for windows servers and mysql better for lynux.

Kind of a silly to argue over this unless you have numbers. I will point out that MS SQL doesn't run on anything but Windows. MySQL can run on both (I'm not sure about PostgreSQL).

Originally posted by Howard_hc
Would there be a problem with using mysql on a windows server?

I've worked with MS SQL and MySQL on Windows. MySQL will work just fine.

Originally posted by Howard_hc
also how easy is it to connect to an mysql database and how many people can it handle at a time?

Don't take my word for it. Check out the ADOdb library for PHP or check php.net and check out the mysql functions and examples. Basically, its pretty easy and/or no more difficult than MS SQL.

Originally posted by Howard_hc

Do you know what sort of databases large sites like deviantart.com use?

No. You'd have to contact them.

MySQL doesn't have all the features and functionality of PostgreSQL or MS SQL, but its quick and can handle a lot of data. I have a 2gb MySQL database with 13,783,xxx rows and it is still performing great.

Originally posted by Howard_hc

I am hoping for this site to get VERY big and I want something that will handle large amounts of users accesing the database at once.

Access definitely is not going to cut it for your needs. MS SQL definitely will, but there's a cost involved. I would think MySQL or PostgreSQL would work just as well.