SQL Server on chared hosting with client connections

[Jo Davis]

www.shanje.com

does sql server hosting, on shared servers, at a reasonable price. It seems.
They also allow client connections. Just playing around I've managed to
connect an Access Data Project to a SQL Server database, and to access the
database from Enterprise Manager (running locally).

First of all - what does anybody think of that as a general idea - local
client, connecting to MS SQL Server running on a shared host, connecting
over the internet (ADSL here). Speed looket OK ish, but of course I haven't
done any real stress testing.

Second. In enterprise manager I could see ALL the database, though I could
only access mine. What's the security implications of this approach?

Third. Anybody got any experience of Shanje? Service/uptime/value etc. Or is
there anybody else offering a similar service?

Cheers, Jo

[John Bell]

Hi

"Jo Davis" <[e-mail]> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** @news.aaisp.net .uk...

www.shanje.com

does sql server hosting, on shared servers, at a reasonable price. It
seems. They also allow client connections. Just playing around I've
managed to connect an Access Data Project to a SQL Server database, and to
access the database from Enterprise Manager (running locally).

First of all - what does anybody think of that as a general idea - local
client, connecting to MS SQL Server running on a shared host, connecting
over the internet (ADSL here). Speed looket OK ish, but of course I
haven't done any real stress testing.
If you can anyone can! They must be using SQL Server Authentication which is
not as strong as windows. As the database server is open to the outside
world the area of exposure is larger than absolutely necessary. Have they
changed from the default port? Are they using encryption? What version are
they on?

Second. In enterprise manager I could see ALL the database, though I could
only access mine. What's the security implications of this approach?
What's in a name, someone may be attracted to a database called
MultinationalCo rpsPayroll!!!

Third. Anybody got any experience of Shanje? Service/uptime/value etc. Or
is there anybody else offering a similar service?

Not me, and maybe if you answered any of my questions you should be thinking
about moving, they may already be quite busy!!!
Cheers, Jo

John

[Jo Davis]

Thanks John.

The reason they are attractive is that they offer client access to SQL
Server at a low price. Most Microsoft (shared) hosting only seems to allow
ASP access to SQL Server. The idea is to allow access to the SQL Server from
a local VB/Access client, for 2 specified uses, and web, read only access,
for everybody else.

The databases are named by them - SQLDB1234 or whatever. When I tried to
access databases that weren't mine, I couldn't, though I agree it's probably
weak. For instance the names of DTS packages are displayed. Most of them
seemed to be password protected, but even so, the names gave a lot away.

I'll investigate some more, bearing in ming your questions.

The price is attractive. As a way of sharing a SQL Server db which also
allows client access, the other alternatives seem to be colo/dedicated
servers, which generally seem to be 4 or 5 times more expensive. Or actually
hosting here on the end of a DSL line. And to be honest I've more faith in
their ability to secure a server than I have in mine.

Cheers, Jo

"John Bell" <jb************ @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** @news.zen.co.uk ...

Hi

"Jo Davis" <[e-mail]> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** @news.aaisp.net .uk...

www.shanje.com

does sql server hosting, on shared servers, at a reasonable price. It
seems. They also allow client connections. Just playing around I've
managed to connect an Access Data Project to a SQL Server database, and
to access the database from Enterprise Manager (running locally).

First of all - what does anybody think of that as a general idea - local
client, connecting to MS SQL Server running on a shared host, connecting
over the internet (ADSL here). Speed looket OK ish, but of course I
haven't done any real stress testing.

If you can anyone can! They must be using SQL Server Authentication which
is not as strong as windows. As the database server is open to the outside
world the area of exposure is larger than absolutely necessary. Have they
changed from the default port? Are they using encryption? What version are
they on?

Second. In enterprise manager I could see ALL the database, though I
could only access mine. What's the security implications of this
approach?

What's in a name, someone may be attracted to a database called
MultinationalCo rpsPayroll!!!

Third. Anybody got any experience of Shanje? Service/uptime/value etc. Or
is there anybody else offering a similar service?

Not me, and maybe if you answered any of my questions you should be
thinking about moving, they may already be quite busy!!!

Cheers, Jo

John

[John Bell]

Hi Jo

Security is a full time job so better left to someone that has dedicate
resources. To ascertain what standard those resources are, is up to you, so
ask them the awkward probing questions! For instance see what they say if
request that they run MBSA and send you the output, I am sure you would run
it yourself if you were hosting this!

Check out the contract and see if they will stand by their responsibilitie s.

John

"Jo Davis" <[e-mail]> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** @news.aaisp.net .uk...

Thanks John.

The reason they are attractive is that they offer client access to SQL
Server at a low price. Most Microsoft (shared) hosting only seems to allow
ASP access to SQL Server. The idea is to allow access to the SQL Server
from a local VB/Access client, for 2 specified uses, and web, read only
access, for everybody else.

The databases are named by them - SQLDB1234 or whatever. When I tried to
access databases that weren't mine, I couldn't, though I agree it's
probably weak. For instance the names of DTS packages are displayed. Most
of them seemed to be password protected, but even so, the names gave a lot
away.

I'll investigate some more, bearing in ming your questions.

The price is attractive. As a way of sharing a SQL Server db which also
allows client access, the other alternatives seem to be colo/dedicated
servers, which generally seem to be 4 or 5 times more expensive. Or
actually hosting here on the end of a DSL line. And to be honest I've more
faith in their ability to secure a server than I have in mine.

Cheers, Jo

"John Bell" <jb************ @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** @news.zen.co.uk ...

Hi

"Jo Davis" <[e-mail]> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** @news.aaisp.net .uk...

www.shanje.com

does sql server hosting, on shared servers, at a reasonable price. It
seems. They also allow client connections. Just playing around I've
managed to connect an Access Data Project to a SQL Server database, and
to access the database from Enterprise Manager (running locally).

First of all - what does anybody think of that as a general idea - local
client, connecting to MS SQL Server running on a shared host, connecting
over the internet (ADSL here). Speed looket OK ish, but of course I
haven't done any real stress testing.

If you can anyone can! They must be using SQL Server Authentication which
is not as strong as windows. As the database server is open to the
outside world the area of exposure is larger than absolutely necessary.
Have they changed from the default port? Are they using encryption? What
version are they on?

Second. In enterprise manager I could see ALL the database, though I
could only access mine. What's the security implications of this
approach?

What's in a name, someone may be attracted to a database called
MultinationalCo rpsPayroll!!!

Third. Anybody got any experience of Shanje? Service/uptime/value etc.
Or is there anybody else offering a similar service?

Not me, and maybe if you answered any of my questions you should be
thinking about moving, they may already be quite busy!!!

Cheers, Jo

John