SQL Server hosting options

Question

Hello,

I am trying to find out what my options are for SQL Server hosting. The reason I am asking is because it always seems to be a problem getting the right kind of hosting for SQL Server. I mostly need a few small databases(<3Mb) for testing or to temporary store some data for clients when I am working on their website.

I could just pay 60-80 euro for a database each time I guess but that seems really expensive for a database with limited data and almost no bandwidth usage.

It can be really frustrating sometimes and it feels like I am always giving up some development "freedom" when I want to work with SQL Server. On the other hand it works so well with Asp.net so maybe that's the price I have to pay for using SQL Server.

So I was wondering how other people deal with this?

Answer 1

SQL Azure.

Answer 2

Presuming your apps will play well with Sql Express, get a small virtual box for client QA and profit.

Answer 3

If you are truly a web company, I'd strongly suggest that you consider investing in a dedicated server. If this is just for fun/experimentation, of course, then this may well be too expensive.

When I started out, I leased a server with both IIS and SQL Server already installed (managed by MaximumASP, btw) and then added Databases and Sites to the server as needed. I believe that you can even do this with "Virtual" dedicated servers to keep costs fairly low (e.g. < $100 / month). Growth, of course, will push you to more sophisticated configurations like it did for me (e.g. dedicated SQL Servers, multiple server web farm, etc.). But if you don't start out with a solid foundation, you'll never get the growth.