Where will the database lie

[msdnexpert]

Hi all,
I have a client server application working on a LAN. I would like to access the client-server applications database from my web server. Where should the client-server database lie so that it is accessible on the LAN as well as from the web server which is in a remote location.
Thanks in advance.

[Clunietp]

You could probably set up a virtual server with your firewall/router (specific traffic to specific ports can be directed to different IP addresses within your LAN)

Or I suppose you could put your SQL Server directly on the internet (its own public IP), but I wouldn't recommend that due to possible hacking

[msdnexpert]

Hi Clunietp,
Thanks for the reply. But what exactly is a virtual server? What is its function? Can you give me some info about it, as to how to setup a virtual server and how to configure it and its firewall?
Thanks in advance

[Clunietp]

your Router has to support it. Do you have a router that supports acting as a virtual server?

[msdnexpert]

Hi Clunietp,
Can you tell me about some books/resources where I can get more info about virtual servers and other such stuff.

[Clunietp]

I can't find a good site describing it, so I'll give it a try:

You have 1 router that is connected to the internet with a public IP address. (call it http://www.myserver.com) When users on the Net try to connect to your router (www.myserver.com), the router on your LAN will redirect that traffic to a server inside of your LAN. This is done transparantly to the client.

Say a user on the net goes to http://www.myserver.com, port 80 (standard HTTP port). Your router takes the request and examines the port. You would have previously configured your router to send all port 80 traffic to a specific INTERNAL IP address, which would be a web server.

You can also use a DMZ (demilitarized zone), I found a decent explanation here:
http://www.nfr.net/firewall-wizards/mail-archive/1999/Jan/0067.html


here is a good page here as well
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/techart/dnablueprint.htm

[msdnexpert]

Hi Clunietp,
If I use a router does it mean that I need to have a dedicated line between the router and my ISP or would the application accesing my database dial up to my router.

[Clunietp]

I was assuming your router would have a permanent connection to the internet. Then you would dial up from home to your ISP, and connect to your router/servers over the internet

[msdnexpert]

Thanks Clunietp thanks a lot.

[Clunietp]