Does SQL Server Exist

Hi All,

I am trying to write an application to install a product that my company has developed. As part of the install I want to perform some validation ie is IIS running is SQL 2000 running etc before installation. The application is in VB .net can anyone tell me if it is possible to check if SQL Server 2000 exists and is running?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

SamBefore using SQL DMO or something to check the service state of SQL Server, why not issuing a simple command like "Select 1" to check whether the server is up or not. Of you want to check for the presence of a database you might issue the command:
Select 1 from master..sysdatabases Where name = 'YourDBNametoCheckfor'

HTH, Jens Suessmeyer|||i would first check if network is available, after check if the server (not sql database server) is on-line... and then check if database server is installed... i'm using this for now till i find something better
i open connection to the server for default database and if its not there (exception) then the sql server is either not runing or it's service is stoped...
hope this helps a bit.... its not perfect but it helps for now...
Private Function CheckServer() As Boolean
Try
Dim MyCnn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection(m_CnnString)
Dim MyCmd As New SqlClient.SqlCommand
MyCnn.Open()
MyCnn.Close()
Return True
Catch ex As SqlException
Return False
Catch ex As Exception
Return False
End Try
End Function

and here i check if database with that name exists
Private Function CheckDb() As Boolean
Dim MyCnn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection(m_CnnString)
Dim MyCmd As New SqlClient.SqlCommand
MyCnn.Open()
With MyCmd
.Connection = MyCnn
'this line of code well sql query i found somewhere on this forums
.CommandText = "Select 1 from master..sysdatabases Where name = '" & m_dbName & "'"
.CommandType = CommandType.Text
End With
Try
Select Case (MyCmd.ExecuteScalar).ToString
Case 1
Return True
MyCnn.Close()
Exit Function
Case Else
Return False
MyCnn.Close()
Exit Function
End Select
Catch ex As NullReferenceException
Return False
MyCnn.Close()
Exit Function
End Try
MyCnn.Close()
End Function

Does SQL Server Exist

Hi All,

I am trying to write an application to install a product that my company has developed. As part of the install I want to perform some validation ie is IIS running is SQL 2000 running etc before installation. The application is in VB .net can anyone tell me if it is possible to check if SQL Server 2000 exists and is running?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

SamBefore using SQL DMO or something to check the service state of SQL Server, why not issuing a simple command like "Select 1" to check whether the server is up or not. Of you want to check for the presence of a database you might issue the command:
Select 1 from master..sysdatabases Where name = 'YourDBNametoCheckfor'

HTH, Jens Suessmeyer|||i would first check if network is available, after check if the server (not sql database server) is on-line... and then check if database server is installed... i'm using this for now till i find something better
i open connection to the server for default database and if its not there (exception) then the sql server is either not runing or it's service is stoped...
hope this helps a bit.... its not perfect but it helps for now...
Private Function CheckServer() As Boolean
Try
Dim MyCnn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection(m_CnnString)
Dim MyCmd As New SqlClient.SqlCommand
MyCnn.Open()
MyCnn.Close()
Return True
Catch ex As SqlException
Return False
Catch ex As Exception
Return False
End Try
End Function

and here i check if database with that name exists
Private Function CheckDb() As Boolean
Dim MyCnn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection(m_CnnString)
Dim MyCmd As New SqlClient.SqlCommand
MyCnn.Open()
With MyCmd
.Connection = MyCnn
'this line of code well sql query i found somewhere on this forums
.CommandText = "Select 1 from master..sysdatabases Where name = '" & m_dbName & "'"
.CommandType = CommandType.Text
End With
Try
Select Case (MyCmd.ExecuteScalar).ToString
Case 1
Return True
MyCnn.Close()
Exit Function
Case Else
Return False
MyCnn.Close()
Exit Function
End Select
Catch ex As NullReferenceException
Return False
MyCnn.Close()
Exit Function
End Try
MyCnn.Close()
End Function

Does MS plan a GUI

Hello all,

We are planning to base a product on Microsoft SQL-2005 Notification services. However, one of the required properties from this software is to provide the client administrator a user interface to configure the Instance Configuration File (ICF) and Application Definition File (ADF). Working with XML files will not do for us, once the responsibility is delegated from a developer to an administrator.

Before going into the process of writing such an application from scratch, I would like to know if Microsoft has such an enhancement on the SQL-NS roadmap, and if so, when it is scheduled to.

Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge?

Thanks

Ziv G.

I don't have any inside knowledge into what Microsoft is planning for future releases. But in the meantime if you're using the SSNS 2005, you can develop your own SSNS GUI to create and manage instances and applications using the SSNS API. I've given a few examples on my blog. Go to http://www.sqlns.com and enter a search criteria of nmo in the textbox in the upper left hand corner of the form.

HTH...

Joe

|||

Ziv,

Drop me an email, I may be able to help with the GUI. BTW, do you work in Israel, if so where?

-- Shaul Dar (shauld@.medcon.com)

|||

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your (quick) response. I had a look at the API supplied with SQL-NS, it seems pretty extensive, and well designed. The thing is that it seems to me that creating an ad-hoc solution should be pretty quick and simple. On the other hand, constructing a true user application, that takes into account SQL-NS integrative capabilities (custom event provider, protocols and so on), while providing default values for the internal components (SMTP delivery protocol for example), taking into consideration robustness and so on, would take a considerable time to design and write.

The thing is that it seems to me like a general-purpose software, that any NS developer would find beneficial, not an application you would expect each developer to write on his own (unlike subscription/subscriber management, which would probably be integrated into customer application, and therefore cannot be supplied with the product).

In any case, I appreciate your response, and I really enjoy your blog.

Thanx, Ziv G.

|||

Hi Ziv -

>>The thing is that it seems to me that creating an ad-hoc solution should be pretty quick and simple.
>>On the other hand, constructing a true user application, that takes into account SQL-NS integrative
>>capabilities (custom event provider, protocols and so on), while providing default values for the internal
>>components (SMTP delivery protocol for example), taking into consideration robustness and so on,
>>would take a considerable time to design and write.

Agreed. Creating an instance/application is typically much faster with the ICF and ADF rather than with the API. I think the API was added to the product to pave the way for Microsoft and 3rd parties to create toolsets. I keep intending to do that for my own practice, but alas I just haven't done it yet.

Joe

|||

I know this isn't going to be a very satisfying answer but at this point in the product cycle, we're not discussing what features we're thinking about for the next version of SQL Server.

Over time, you'll see us come out with more detailed plans for the overall product. If I remember correctly, it wasn't until 1.5 years into SQL Server 2005 that we did our Tech Preview and started the ball rolling on what features we were thinking about. These things take a little time to settle out.

Thanks,

-Lukasz

|||

Hi Luksaz,

Thanks for your answer. You are right, I wanted to get a different answer, but your answer makes sense to me.

Thanx again,

Ziv G.

Does MS plan a GUI

Hello all,

We are planning to base a product on Microsoft SQL-2005 Notification services. However, one of the required properties from this software is to provide the client administrator a user interface to configure the Instance Configuration File (ICF) and Application Definition File (ADF). Working with XML files will not do for us, once the responsibility is delegated from a developer to an administrator.

Before going into the process of writing such an application from scratch, I would like to know if Microsoft has such an enhancement on the SQL-NS roadmap, and if so, when it is scheduled to.

Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge?

Thanks

Ziv G.

I don't have any inside knowledge into what Microsoft is planning for future releases. But in the meantime if you're using the SSNS 2005, you can develop your own SSNS GUI to create and manage instances and applications using the SSNS API. I've given a few examples on my blog. Go to http://www.sqlns.com and enter a search criteria of nmo in the textbox in the upper left hand corner of the form.

HTH...

Joe

|||

Ziv,

Drop me an email, I may be able to help with the GUI. BTW, do you work in Israel, if so where?

-- Shaul Dar (shauld@.medcon.com)

|||

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your (quick) response. I had a look at the API supplied with SQL-NS, it seems pretty extensive, and well designed. The thing is that it seems to me that creating an ad-hoc solution should be pretty quick and simple. On the other hand, constructing a true user application, that takes into account SQL-NS integrative capabilities (custom event provider, protocols and so on), while providing default values for the internal components (SMTP delivery protocol for example), taking into consideration robustness and so on, would take a considerable time to design and write.

The thing is that it seems to me like a general-purpose software, that any NS developer would find beneficial, not an application you would expect each developer to write on his own (unlike subscription/subscriber management, which would probably be integrated into customer application, and therefore cannot be supplied with the product).

In any case, I appreciate your response, and I really enjoy your blog.

Thanx, Ziv G.

|||

Hi Ziv -

>>The thing is that it seems to me that creating an ad-hoc solution should be pretty quick and simple.
>>On the other hand, constructing a true user application, that takes into account SQL-NS integrative
>>capabilities (custom event provider, protocols and so on), while providing default values for the internal
>>components (SMTP delivery protocol for example), taking into consideration robustness and so on,
>>would take a considerable time to design and write.

Agreed. Creating an instance/application is typically much faster with the ICF and ADF rather than with the API. I think the API was added to the product to pave the way for Microsoft and 3rd parties to create toolsets. I keep intending to do that for my own practice, but alas I just haven't done it yet.

Joe

|||

I know this isn't going to be a very satisfying answer but at this point in the product cycle, we're not discussing what features we're thinking about for the next version of SQL Server.

Over time, you'll see us come out with more detailed plans for the overall product. If I remember correctly, it wasn't until 1.5 years into SQL Server 2005 that we did our Tech Preview and started the ball rolling on what features we were thinking about. These things take a little time to settle out.

Thanks,

-Lukasz

|||

Hi Luksaz,

Thanks for your answer. You are right, I wanted to get a different answer, but your answer makes sense to me.

Thanx again,

Ziv G.

Does anyone from MSFT monitor this forum anymore?

Most if not all other forums that I participate in include responses from people in QA and or the respective product group.... Several posts here have gone unresolved for weeks and I was curious as to why someone from MSFT hasn't attempted to respond. Thre are times when the only answer or resolution to a question or problem require inside information.

Yes, definitely MS is watching this group. But I guess there is no escalation for the threads in the groups within Microsoft, because this is a public group from MSDN.

BTW: Does anyone know or perhaps the person for himself know the name of a SQL Server guy at Microsoft whose name sounds something like SOUNDEX(Ted or Ed Lehman or Ehland) ? I got a mail from him some time ago but don′t have this mail due to crashes anymore. I would be glad if someone could point me in the right direction.

-Jens Suessmeyer.

http://www.sqlserver2005.de
|||

Chris,

Your complaint duly noted. We've been a little busy with shipping Service Pack 1 but now that it's almost out we'll go through the recent posts and answer what we can.

Jens,

I contacted Ed Lehman and either he will reply here shortly or you can contact me directly (arturl at microsoft dot com). (Spammers, you know...)

Artur Laksberg
SQL Server Team
Microsoft

Documentation for Visual Studio Team Edition for Developers?

Is it possible to get some Help documentation for the latest Visual Studio Team Edition for Db Professionals (CTP).
I'd like to evaluate this product but can't find the Help/Documentation...

Am I missing something?

EricJust found it!

For those with the same problem, the answer is that the documentation is stored as a stand alone CHM file in the installation folder (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\DBPro\dv_VSTSDataConMain.chm).

Thanks Eric. I don't know what I would do without you !