Downsize from SQL Server to MSDE?

We recommend that our clients install SQL Server at each of their satellite
offices. Every night we DTS the central database out to the satellite
offices. That way, if the link goes down, or if the main server were to go
down, we'd have one or more backup databases to switch over to.
One client is looking to save on SQL Server licensing costs. They understand
that the main server will need to be SQL Server, but they're reluctant to
pay extra for additional servers which won't normally be used. They're
asking if they could have MSDE installed at the satellite offices, rather
than SQL Server, and is there any way the main SQL Server database can be
pumped down to the satellite MSDE databases nightly. Is this possible with
DTS or any other way?
If you have any suggestions or reference links, that would be very much
appreciated!
Thanks,
- Joe Geretz -
As long as the MSDE installation does not violate Microsoft's EULA for MSDE
or the database is not greater than 2GB in size or the usage of the MSDE
instances will not be hampered by the built in processing governor in MSDE,
then I would see no problem.
Jim
"Joseph Geretz" <jgeretz@.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ulI7Pp3FEHA.712@.tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> We recommend that our clients install SQL Server at each of their
satellite
> offices. Every night we DTS the central database out to the satellite
> offices. That way, if the link goes down, or if the main server were to go
> down, we'd have one or more backup databases to switch over to.
> One client is looking to save on SQL Server licensing costs. They
understand
> that the main server will need to be SQL Server, but they're reluctant to
> pay extra for additional servers which won't normally be used. They're
> asking if they could have MSDE installed at the satellite offices, rather
> than SQL Server, and is there any way the main SQL Server database can be
> pumped down to the satellite MSDE databases nightly. Is this possible with
> DTS or any other way?
> If you have any suggestions or reference links, that would be very much
> appreciated!
> Thanks,
> - Joe Geretz -
>