Introducing support for SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB

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Introducing support for SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB

Postby Mike.Sheen » Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:18 pm

Hi,

In build 7.00.109.00 of Jiwa 7 we have introduced support for SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB. This removes a primary obstacle placed before users wanting to try Jiwa out - the requirement to install and configure an SQL Server.

What is SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB?
SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB is a single user instance of SQL Server Express, without any configuration burden. It runs within the Jiwa application process, and does not need the SQL Server installed to connect to a locally deployed database - so it's what's known as "zero configuration"

Why support SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB?
The requirement to connect to a SQL Server has long been a barrier for people wanting to try Jiwa out - users were required to have SQL Server installed and configured and for Jiwa to then be installed and configured to connect to the SQL server. Because of licencing issues, and configuration complexity we could not previously install a SQL Server as part of the Jiwa application installation.

With Jiwa 7.00.109.00 we include SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB as part of our installation - and we automatically create a new Jiwa Demo database and configure a connection to it when Jiwa is first run for a user. This means when Jiwa is first run, the user can connect straight to a demo database without having to install SQL Server at all.

What are the benefits?
SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB allows quick and easy access to Jiwa 7 for evaluation purposes. Users simply install Jiwa 7, then run the application and login to the already established demonstration database. SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB does not run as a separate service - it runs only when Jiwa is running, so there is no imposition on system resources when not running Jiwa.

Users are also not confined to the demonstration database - they are free to create their own databases and import data from their legacy systems.

What are the limitations?
SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB is not a multi-user database server, so only the currently logged in Windows user can access the database - so in essence it is a single user database server.

The performance of databases using SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB is not going to compare to a dedicated SQL Server, as it is constrained by the memory, CPU and disk capabilities of the machine it is deployed on - but in our testing so far the average low end desktop or laptop system is more than adequate for evaluation - even when using moderately sized databases.

How can I backup/restore or otherwise administer a database using SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB?
If you install the SQL Express Management Studio, on the same machine as the database is located, you can connect to it and treat it exactly like a normal SQL Server. You can run queries, backup, restore, delete, create databases, etc. The server name you need to use to connect with SQL Management Studio is: (localdb)\mssqllocaldb and use Windows Authentication - then you can administer the databases like any other SQL Server.

We don't expect users to use SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB for production purposes, but encourage its use for evaluation of the Jiwa 7 product. Visit http://support.jiwa.com.au/ to obtain build 7.00.109.00 or later which has support for SQL Server Express 2014 LocalDB.

Mike
Mike Sheen
Chief Software Engineer
Jiwa Financials

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