Hi,  I was wondering if it is possible to have 2 separate DNN Installations (to different hosting spaces areas) but have them sharing 1 MS SQL database using prefixed table names. 

I know that DNN is a portal system but for certain reasons i wish to have separate installations for each website as they may have varing needs in the future. I have found that you can prefix the table names for the database during the install. But i can't seem to get the install work.  It actually completes successfullt but the new set of tables doesn't seem to be installed.  There is a entry made in to the aspnet_applications table for the new install, but no new tables with the different prefix apear in the database.

Is it possible to do achieve i am trying?

Can anyone help me with this, it would be much appreciated?

Thanks
Owen

Hi Owen,

It's a good question, as you say, usually you would just create another portal, but I can understand why you would want to split the hosting up, so in theory I would think yes it's possible and approach it in the way you have, but if it's not working there maybe something in the installation procedure that is checking for another install of tables.

You would also have to check that your modules will be compatible running in this environment and don't clash. - I've come across some modules in the days of DNN2.x where if you had  a prefix on the tables they would throw errors. - I think most modules now are compatible with this, but occassionally you do come across the problem.

You may be safer just using 2 separate installations with separate databases.

Let me know if you come across a solution, I would be very interested to hear about it,

thanks,

Thanks for getting back to me Lee. Alas no resolve so far.

Yes the reason i wish to achieve this is that i act as a hosting reseller and have a dedicated HELM based server. However my wholesaler doesn't provide multiple MS SQL databases with this option. Thus i have to pay for a new MS SQL server database for each site i wish to setup with DNN. I am in the process i migrating all my sites from another CMS system (PostNuke) on a linux based box, and thought that DNN would be a great move. But have come unstuck with the requirement of a separate MS SQL server database for each site i have. I have about 15 of them to migrate. So its turning out to be a bit of a problem. Have consider setting up my own live internet MS SQL server, but don't really want the cost and administration overhead.

I have come across a Firebird database solution that is in the process of being developed as a dataprovider for DNN but unfortunatley is a bit of a way off.

Do you know of any very cheap MS SQL server hosting that i could use with each of my DNN sites? It cost me $50 (Australian) for each DB here.

Thanks
Owen

Hi Owen,

That's expensive for reseller hosting, I would do some shopping around. - www.resellerchoice.com  is a reseller that I use for DNN installs. They have been great support and service, but I'm currently thinking of moving as they are having server problems and I'm experiencing quite a bit of downtime. - They are in the process of exchanging the server, but it's taking longer than they expected. - You will probably be alright if you are signing up today as I guess they would put you on a different server that is working ok.

There are others around, so I would Google and see what you come across (look for hosting reviews)

Thanks,

Thanks for the info, Lee.

Owen