I’ve started work on a project that requires an SQL Server Database. I will be building a front end application in c# .Net 3.5, that will use LINQ to SQL.
I need to host the database on a network share so that a group of users can all gain access to the database, mainly for read only.
I know that SQL Server Compact is designed to run on the local machine and my company is not willing to front the costs of a full blooded SQL Server.
Is there a way of achieving what I need to do via SQL Server Express?
If so, which are the best guides on how to set this up?
Thanks
If you go with the (free) SQL Server express, it will do what you need – but you don’t access it thru a network shared drive – the server would be located by an ip address (or equivalent DNS).
You c# application would be talking to a service – SQL Server – not reading to/from a database file. The service will handle the interaction with the database. Only the SQL Server service will need to know where the file actually is – your client machines won’t know and shouldn’t care.
If your background is only with file-based databases – i.e. MS Access, you need to change your mindset a bit about how SQL server works.