[RESOLVED] Net Application and SQL express network deploy

I have my vbnet application with sql server express designed for individual desktop pc. Now I want to have it work on a network.

1_ how can I make my customer to install sql express and the Database on the server and enable the network protocols seamlessly? dont want to have my customer configuring sql expess manually.
2_ how can I have my client software to look for the sql express and connect to it in a seamless way??

Does anyone have any ideas , perhaps any example of configuration file ?
Can I avoid the customer to enter configuration data?

Thanks in advance
Cybersandokan

I made something similar at long ago...

You can ship the sql server express with your application install in silent mode sql server, proceed with your application, in your application, maybe in the first run, run a script that build your database and create the user that will be used by your application.

SQL Server Silent Install

Thanks for the answer. That answers my question #1
what about the second?
How can my application in the client pc detect where is the sql server express /database installed, in what server/instance??

Cybersandokan

If you install the sql server in silent mode, you define where and how to install so you know what instance will be installed.

The database will be installed during install, or when your application start, just put some check (registry for example), and run an sql script that creates the database, the tables, the user and set the permissions for the new user, this user will be the user used in your application.

EDIT - You can get by code the Sql Server installed instances in a local area network Dim dt As DataTable = Sql.SqlDataSourceEnumerator.Instance.GetDataSources

Thanks for your help. This is exactly what I needed.

Cybersandokan

Please remeber that by default SQLExpress is not set to allow connections to the Server from anything but the local machine. Ensure that is modified and set the protocalls you want to use for connections

@Gary i think that all connections are local, it will install the SQL Server with the application :)

If you do that then ensure that the application sitting on the server is given full trust on each client machine that will attempt to use it or you will get a security failure on the .Net application.