Surf Control v5.5 manual Database Considerations, Database Platforms, SQL Server Express

INSTALLATION DECISIONS

Database Considerations

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DATABASE CONSIDERATIONS

Before you start to install Web Filter, you should decide:

•Which database platform you plan to use (SQL Server Express or SQL Server).

•How Web Filter will connect to the database (Windows or SQL authentication).

DATABASE PLATFORMS

Web Filter uses SQL Server Express, or a fully-licensed version of SQL Server 2000 or 2005. SurfControl recommends that you ensure your choice of database platform is installed and running, before attempting to install Web Filter. SurfControl recommends that you use SQL Server rather than SQL Server Express for the following reasons:

•SQL Server allows greater scalability.

•SQL Server enables you to fine-tune database performance.

•SQL Server is more suitable for environments with heavy Web traffic.

•SQL Server Express has a maximum size of 4GB.

Web Filter connects to the database using a fully-qualified connection string. This string contains all the details required to connect to a database including database type, name of the server, user ID, password, and database name. Using a connection string does not require the creation of Data Source Names (DSN), therefore, any Web Filter client or server on the network can access the database without creating a link through the ODBC driver.

SQL Server Express

If you are not using a SQL Server database, you need to install SQL Server Express. SurfControl recommends you install your database platform before installing Web Filter. If you want to use SQL Server Express, be aware of the following:

•You must install .NET Framework 2.0 before installing SQL Server Express.

•If installing on a Windows 2000 computer, you must install Windows Installer 3.1 before installing SQL Server Express.

•You must install SQL Server Express as a Default Instance when prompted during installation.

•You must install the Database and Connectivity Components when prompted during installation.

•You must perform the steps outlined below after installing SQL Server Express, and before installing Web Filter.

•By default, SQL Server Express runs as a Network Service. When performing a database archive or restore, it needs to run with a local admin account to be able to access drive C.

The following post SQL Server Express installation configuration is taken from the MSDN Blog entry: http:/ /blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/archive/2004/07/23/192044.aspx which explains the steps in more detail. The Post SQL Server Express Installation Configuration steps are as follows:

1Make sure SQL Server Express is running correctly (assumes a default install).

2Open a Command Prompt.

SurfControl Web Filter for ISA v5.5 Starter Guide 21