Basic Questions about SQL Server Compact Edition 3.5

Question

1) Is SSCE (SQL Server Compact Edition) a local only database? Meaning I can't access it from anywhere else but the host machine?

2) It supports up to 256 connections locally?

3) Are there any good tools available for converting an empty mdf with no stored procedures or triggers to a CE sdf?

4) When you run the install for this, does it open any ports at all? I wouldn't think so but my boss is convinced it does.

5) Does SQL Server Management Studio open any ports by default upon installation?

Thanks for reading and any insight you can provide :)

Answer 1

1. Yes. It is a local only DB, and cannot be accessed from other machines
2. Not sure, I've never hit a limit, but I know that there is a 4GB limit on the file size
3. None that I'm aware of
4. Again, none that I'm aware of (at least my software and corporate firewalls haven't been complaining)
5. Again, none that I'm aware of. The Management Studio itself is not the DBMS package (which does require some ports to be opened). That said, I've never tried to install the Management STudio without either SQL DEVELOPER or SQL EXPRESS.

Just a note: I answered Question #1 on the concept of attempting to use the SSCE as a SERVER which a secondary computer attaches to, as opposed to mounting the DB File from a Shared Drive. For example, in SQL Express, I can place an instance onto a server, and have multiple applications connect to it, and I can also mount the file associated with a DB into my local instance of SQL Express from a shared drive. In SSCE, one can mount the file, but can't act as a server.