Basic SQL Server Express Questions

I'm a long time user of SQL Server 2000 but no knowledge of 2005 Express.

Among other things I support some small websites that are hosted at very low cost. The host currently provides version 1.1 of the dot net framework and MySQL v4 is standard. I need to add database capability to one of the sites. I'm looking at MySQL but curious if maybe 2005 Express would not work.

Can I simply deploy a 2005 Express (similar to msde) database with my web app (asp.net 2003) on a win2k server? Or will 2005 Express only run on win2003 with framework 2.0? Also, what are the practical user limits for a express 2005 database? I may need to support as many as 5 concurrent users. Will Express 2005 handle that?

ThanksThe express edition of sql server 2005 is far superior to the old MSDE. The performance governor is gone! Express edition will run on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2000 SP4, and Windows 2003. The .NET Framework is required for all editions of SQL Server 2005. However, you do not have to convert your website to the 2.0 framework. The 1.1 framework should connect to the SQL Express just fine. Also, 5 concurrent database connections should not be a problem. I strongly recommend using database connection pooling with ASP.net. Good Luck!|||Thanks Jon that was very helpful. I'd prefer to spend the time learning more about SQL server 2005 versus MySQL.

One more question... or two. I currently use Visual Studio 2003.net. If I need version 2.0 of the framework for db development, do I also need to develop the web app with Visual Studio 2005?

My biggest concern is the host and the framework limitation. From your response and what I've read, sounds like I need to install version 2 of the framework to install and develop with SQL Server 2005 express. To avoid the need for framework 2.0 on the web server/host then don't I need to develop the web app with Visual Studio .Net 2003? Assuming I'm on the right track here, what about deployment? I read that 2005 will package 2005 Express along with the app. Will Visual Studio 2003 do the same?

Thanks again

Mardy|||Here is a forum thread that discusses different versions of .NET Framework and Visual Studio: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=123637&SiteID=1.

If you build with .NET 2.0 and SQL Express 2005, your host will need to support those. Fortunately, there's a good list of hosters already doing this - you can see them at http://www.asp.net/hosters/ then click on the "ASP.NET 2.0" and "SQL 2005" links on the right side under Quick Hoster Search.