Member Avatar for mania_comp

hi guys

I want know that whether is it possible that to implement Client - Server architecture by using SQL SERVER 2005 EXPRESS EDITION
as a main server and on other client PCs also I have SQL SERVER 2005 EXPRESS EDITION . So can i connect to main server from that
client server SQL server 2005 express edition?

I read on Net that for a main server I need SQL SERVER full version or compact version and in clinet its ok to install EXpress edition ?
Is is true?

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Dani AI

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Short clarification and practical checklist (builds on posts from and ):

Using Express as the central server is workable for small deployments, but real-world reliability comes from handling the platform tradeoffs — capacity, scheduling, and maintenance — not from whether clients can connect. The points below focus on what to watch for if the production machine runs SQL Server Express (2005/2008 era or later) and how to operate it safely.

Version and scale limits to watch for: older Express releases (SQL Server 2005 / early 2008 builds) impose a 4 GB-per-database cap and tight RAM/CPU constraints; later Express releases raised the per-database cap (modern Express editions use a larger cap and different buffer-pool limits). These platform limits determine whether Express will remain acceptable as your data and concurrent-usage grow. (learn.microsoft.com)

Maintenance and automation: Express does not include SQL Server Agent, so you must schedule backups and maintenance outside the engine. Use a Transact-SQL script + Windows Task Scheduler or sqlcmd to run backups, consistency checks, or index maintenance. Example backup command (run from a scheduled .bat): 

sqlcmd -S .\SQLEXPRESS -E -Q "BACKUP DATABASE [MyDB] TO DISK='C:\Backups\MyDB.bak' WITH INIT"

A simple query to monitor database-file sizes:

SELECT DB_NAME(database_id) AS db, SUM(size)*8/1024 AS SizeMB
FROM sys.master_files
GROUP BY database_id;

Plan scheduled tasks and alerts rather than relying on interactive checks. (learn.microsoft.com)

Operational gotchas and quick fixes: Express databases are often configured with AUTO_CLOSE behavior that hurts latency for intermittent workloads — if you see frequent “Starting up database” events, set AUTO_CLOSE OFF:

ALTER DATABASE YourDB SET AUTO_CLOSE OFF;

Watch the DB-size threshold and prepare a migration path (upgrade the instance or shard/archive large tables) before you hit the hard cap. Logs and filegrowth behavior matter: monitor free space, schedule cleanups, and use connection pooling on clients to reduce churn.

These notes expand on the thread advice: verify the exact Express version you plan to run, automate backups and monitoring, and pick a non-Express edition once size, feature, or scheduling limits become constraining. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for sknake

Yes you can use SQL Server 2005. Be sure to enable remote connections when installing it however. He is a good start on configuring all of the installation options:

setup.exe /qb ADDLOCAL=SQL_Engine,SQL_Data_Files,SQL_Replication,Client_Components,Connectivity,SQL_SSMSEE INSTANCENAME=@@YourInstanceName@@ SAVESYSDB=1 SQLBROWSERAUTOSTART=1 SQLAUTOSTART=1 AGTAUTOSTART=1 SECURITYMODE=SQL SAPWD=@@PASSWORD@@ DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS=0 ERRORREPORTING=1 SQMREPORTING=0 ADDUSERASADMIN=1 INSTALLSQLDIR="%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\"

The fields highlighted in red should be changed and the @@s removed. I added them to make it stick out.

Member Avatar for IslamElshenawy

hi guys

I want know that whether is it possible that to implement Client - Server architecture by using SQL SERVER 2005 EXPRESS EDITION
as a main server and on other client PCs also I have SQL SERVER 2005 EXPRESS EDITION . So can i connect to main server from that
client server SQL server 2005 express edition?

I read on Net that for a main server I need SQL SERVER full version or compact version and in clinet its ok to install EXpress edition ?
Is is true?

Answer :
you can't implement client-server by using SQL SERVER 2005 EXPRESS EDITION you need a DEVELOPER EDITION at least the express edition is experimental edition you can creat a client server by installing SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition first and then 2005 Express Edition

commented: untrue -2
Member Avatar for sknake

Answer :
you can't implement client-server by using SQL SERVER 2005 EXPRESS EDITION you need a DEVELOPER EDITION at least the express edition is experimental edition you can creat a client server by installing SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition first and then 2005 Express Edition

That is untrue. The "Express Edition" has built in limitations but you can implement client-server side functionality.

Member Avatar for mania_comp

Can I use sql server 2008 express edition for that?
Is it so that sql server 2008 express edition comes with same limitation as SQL server express 2005 i.e. cannot be used as a main server for connecting clients to it ??

Member Avatar for sknake

You can use SQL 2008 as well for a client-server architecture. Get this out of your mind that SQL express editions are not capable of it -- because they are.

Member Avatar for samir_ibrahim

I agree with sknake that you can use MSSQL 2005/2008 Express Edition as a server and multiple clients/user can connect to it.

You have to take into consideration that in express edition the DB size limit is 4GB and you cannot use it as publisher for replication.

For more info.

Member Avatar for mania_comp

Ya .. thanx

I was my misunderstanding..
I was successful in connecting sql express 2005 in client -server mode..

Thnx a lot :)
Cheers

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