Installing Windows Server AppFabric - appfabric

I'm trying to install Windows Server AppFabric using Web Platform Installer on my testing Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition. Although I have SQL Server (Developer Edition) installed on the server, WPI is still "insisting" that I need SQL Server Express, and I don't have option to change that.
The question is: how can I tell the setup that I already have SQL Server and don't need the Express Edition? The same goes when I go production; I'll have my SQL Server on separate server, so how can I tell AppFabric what SQL Server it need to connect to, as well as preventing SQL Server Express Edition from being installed.
P.S. I'm intending to use AppFabric for caching only and only on a single server; i.e. no WCF and WF fancy stuff or distributed cache.
Thanks
TheBlueSky

It may be that WPI isn't your best bet in this instance - you can download the standalone installer here. Also, although Web PI insists on installing SQL Sexpress, there's no requirement for you atually use it :-) - I have the same setup as you with SQL Server Developer installed, which is what I use for my AppFabric setup.
Once AppFabric is installed you can select a SQL Server to use when you run the configuration wizard:

Related

AppFabric Server Caching Service Configuration Store Error

I have installed AppFabric in my Windows 8.1 Pro machine and I'm facing problems while configuring it.
I am getting the below error when I clicked on "Configure" button inside "Caching Service" section of "AppFabric Server Configuration Wizard".
I have googled with the error text, but could not find useful information.
Can anybody please tell what I am missing!
See this article - Walkthrough: Deploying Windows Server AppFabric in a Workgroup Environment:
This section describes how to install and configure Windows Server
AppFabric on multiple computers in a workgroup environment. In this
scenario, you will configure the AppFabric Hosting Services feature to
use SQL Server data stores, and configure the AppFabric Caching
Services feature to use an XML file in a shared file store for
configuration information. In a workgroup environment, a SQL Server
database is not supported for configuration data for the Caching
Services feature, so you must use a shared file store.
You are attempting to use a Sql Server database for the Caching Services feature in a workgroup environment: you need to use a shared file store, which means setting up a file share with the cache config in an XML file. The article goes into detail about how to do that.

Sync Framework and SQL Server in a centralized model - does SF need to be installed on the central server?

Good Day Everyone,
Excuse the newbie question, I am new to Microsoft Sync Framework. I've done extensive research on the Internet in order to find my way in this puzzle with the different versions of Sync Framework, of SQL Server, of Sync Services for ADO.NET, of SyncAgent vs SyncOrchestrator, etc. etc. and what should be used in which type of scenario. Unfortunately, after about a week of struggling all day long with how to code my ASP.NET 2.0 C# web application right, I am still lost.
My current situation is this: I am developing applications for a large Department and I cannot expect to get approval for installing new stuff on the server side. I am stuck with SQL Server 2008 and (I believe), the server has Sync Framework 1.0 installed on it. However, I have the freedom to install later versions on the client computers that will connect to the server. These will have SQL Server 2008 Express (NOT Compact) and will each run the web app. in their localhost IIS. The synchronization model is centralized in that the clients will only connect to the server for bidirectional synchronization (in a star-shaped network topology, do we call this the hub-spoke model?) but will not connect to each other (no peer-to-peer collaboration).
I have prepared both sides of the database for synchronization (enabled Change Tracking, put GUID data type for Primary Keys, etc. etc.)
The core of the synchronization, the program that makes the interface between the two nodes to synchronize, seem to be exclusively the web application on the client side. Right?
QUESTION: If I want to use Sync Framework v2.0 or v2.1, can I just ignore what version is installed on the server? In other words, is the Sync Framework on the server side even doing something? The SQL Server does not have the web application installed on it.
Unfortunately I could not find answer to this rather simple question on the web!
Thanks very much for your help! Have a great day!
Kindest Regards,
Zyxy
No, you don't need to install sync framework on the central sever. All you need from the central database is a connection string. As long as you can access the central database with a login that has sufficient rights, then you don't need to install anything on it. The sync application can run from anywhere as long as it is able to connect to the central server.
depends how you build your application.
if all sync code is on your app and you simply point it to connect the central sql server, then no need to have sync framework on the server.
if however you decide to use WCF such that you have a service component of the sync on the server side, then you need sync framework on the server. you client will have a proxy for the server side service and part of the synchronization will be executed server side on the wcf service.
with regards to SQL Express on the client side, SQL Ce is the only supported client database is you use VS Local Database Cache Project item or if you manually code against the SyncAgent/SQLCeClientSyncProvider/DbServerSyncProvider.
if you use SQL Express, you will have to use the newer SyncOrchestrator/SqlSyncProvider combo but that doesnt use the built-in SQL Change tracking.

Host a SOAP web service on a server

I have a SOAP web service code (.asmx) created using VS.NET 2008 which I plan to host on a web server. I am unaware and completely new to the term 'hosting' . My question is whether there are any free and limited period web hosting services that offer me to host a .asmx web service having Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as backend. If yes, what should the approach be from my side ? Should I the upload the .asmx code or the entire VS.NET project ? I am working on localhost at present.
Thanks
This describes how to deploy ASMX web services:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/6x71sze4(v=VS.90).aspx
You'll need to find a web host that supports IIS and ASP.NET. I'm not aware of any free hosts that support server side scripts and SQL databases. One of the cheapest options that I've used in the past is GoDaddy, which should satisfy all your needs.
You can test locally if you install IIS 7, available through the web platform installer:
http://www.microsoft.com/web/downloads/platform.aspx

Can I use SQLExpress as the server in sync framework 4.0?

I would like to use sqlexpress on the server end for ease of development.
Sql Server, Sql Express and Sql Azure uses the same provider SqlSyncProvider in Sync Framework so i dont see any reason why you cant use Sql Express as the server provider.
btw, please note that Sync Fx v4 RTM has been put on hold, see: Sync Framework V4 Update

Is the SOAP webservice API availiable in the SSRS 2008 express edition?

In other words, if I set up SSRS Express edition will I be able to consume and make calls through the webservice?
Update: Check this link on features supported. Reporting Services in SQL Server Express with Advanced Services.
Your best best is the Express edition with Advanced Services.
SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services has all of the features in SQL Server 2008 Express, plus you can:
Run SQL Server Reporting Services reports on local relational data.