SBS 2003 and Sql Server ~ Client Install

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Boris Merryweather - 06 Aug 2008 10:34 GMT

We've been using SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition for a few years.
We've decided to see what benefits Sql Server might offer us.

The server installation seems okay but we keep failing when we try to
install software on a client. The installation asks for the 25 character
product key. We've input the key that came with the SBS installation disk
but are told that this is the wrong key. Should we have been supplied with
another key specifically for a client install? Any help would be
appreciated.

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TIA
Boris Merryweather

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Cris Hanna [SBS-MVP] - 06 Aug 2008 17:39 GMT

What are you trying to install on the client?

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TIA
Boris Merryweather

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Boris Merryweather - 06 Aug 2008 19:24 GMT

As I understand it, in order to use a SQL Server database you have to have
something on the clients in order to use it (some sort of editor?) otherwise
you have to do all the work on the server.

Your reply suggests that we're missing something - a few brain cells perhaps
;-)

Regards
B

What are you trying to install on the client?

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TIA
Boris Merryweather

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SuperGumby [SBS MVP] - 06 Aug 2008 20:23 GMT

You do not use the SQL Server installation on the clients. Windows has
native capabilities to act as an SQL client and this is normally configured
by whatever application is acting as 'front end' to the database.

I have very little to do with SQL but I believe it is possible to install
'SQL Management' tools on the client(s). If I needed to do so, and the
server was configured to allow this, I would probably download 'SQL Server
Management Studio Express' (free download, ms) no matter what previous
version of SQL was installed on the server. I think though that we a jumping
ahead a bit by exploring this idea.

On the server you create an SQL database and configure it to be available
across the network (if necessary). You then use ODBC (Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC)) on the client to allow the
'connection' to the database (again, if necessary).

I say (if necessary) because, for example, it is not necessary to install,
or configure, anything on the client to browse a web page backended by SQL.
IIS on the server handles the connection to SQL. Also, programs like Access,
on the client, will create 'ad-hoc' connections to the SQL server purely by
options in the program.

There are a couple of reasons to install SQL on SBS.
1) Upgrade the MSDE instances (those that can be) to full SQL.
2) Create a new database.

Option 1 is documented somewhere, google is your friend if this is the aim.
Option 2 requires an understanding and purpose.

Installing SQL 'because it's there' is sortta silly.

> As I understand it, in order to use a SQL Server database you have to have
> something on the clients in order to use it (some sort of editor?)
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> another key specifically for a client install? Any help would be
> appreciated.

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Boris Merryweather - 07 Aug 2008 09:21 GMT

Thank you for the reply.

> You do not use the SQL Server installation on the clients

We're not (we hope). We are trying to install the client software
(apparently it's on the SBS DVD, but the documentation around this area is
lacking, to say the least).

> Option 2 requires an understanding and purpose.
>
> Installing SQL 'because it's there' is sortta silly.

We want to install to gain an understanding.
We understand that a Northwind training database is available for SQL
Server.
We understand that something called "Books Online" is also installed on the
client as part of the client install process.

Once we've managed to install the SQL Server Client we can start to
use/test/train on it.
We have a project (currently in Access - No, it's not Northwind, but that's
how we learnt Access all those years ago) that we want to transfer because
currently Access performs all its calculations locally.
Stored procedures look as though they have the power we need without hogging
the network (Access does everything locally / SQL Server doesn't).

So, we're back to the beginning.
How do we install the client software for SQL Server?

On the DVD the path is eventually in .....\SQL2005\TOOLS
Running DEFAULT.HTM brings upa screen showing "Run the SQL Native Client
Installation Wizard"
During the install this prompts for the 25 character product key, which
brings me back to my original question:

>> The installation asks for the 25 character product key. We've input the
>> key that came with the SBS installation disk but are told that this is
>> the wrong key. Should we have been supplied with another key specifically
>> for a client install? Any help would be appreciated.

Pip pip
Boris

> You do not use the SQL Server installation on the clients. Windows has
> native capabilities to act as an SQL client and this is normally
[quoted text clipped - 51 lines]
>> another key specifically for a client install? Any help would be
>> appreciated.

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Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP] - 18 Aug 2008 13:45 GMT

There is no "SQL client" software
There are management tools for managing the database
but as a client, there are many applications that can act as client as
already pointed out. Access front end to a SQL database, Excel can be a
front end, A word mail merge document could access a SQL database via ODBC.

You might do better in some of the SQL newsgroups

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Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
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MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

> Thank you for the reply.
>
[quoted text clipped - 94 lines]
>>> another key specifically for a client install? Any help would be
>>> appreciated.

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Boris Merryweather - 23 Aug 2008 14:23 GMT

As this is a part of SBS and as my original question concerned the licence
number, I think this is the correct forum.

In the meantime, you're wrong! I've found the client tools and have now
successfully installed them.

Best wishes
B.

> There is no "SQL client" software
> There are management tools for managing the database
[quoted text clipped - 105 lines]
>>>> another key specifically for a client install? Any help would be
>>>> appreciated.

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Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP] - 24 Aug 2008 05:11 GMT

So what were these "client tools"?

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Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Author, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=
pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1

------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

> As this is a part of SBS and as my original question concerned the licence
> number, I think this is the correct forum.
[quoted text clipped - 114 lines]
>>>>> another key specifically for a client install? Any help would be
>>>>> appreciated.

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