About Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE)

This topic provides reference information about Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE):

What is MSDE?

MSDE is a new technology that provides local data storage that is compatible with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. You can also use MSDE as a remote data storage solution. Think of MSDE as a client/server data engine alternative to the file server Microsoft Jet database engine. MSDE runs under Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or later and Windows 95 or later. It is designed and optimized for use on smaller computer systems, such as a single user computer or small workgroup server.

Because MSDE is based on the same data engine as SQL Server, most Microsoft Access projects or client/server applications run on either version unchanged. However unlike SQL Server 7.0, MSDE has a 2 gigabyte database size limit, doesn't support Symmetrical Multiprocessing (SMP) on Windows 95 or later, and when using Transactional replication, can't be a replication publisher (although it can act as a replication subscriber).

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When to use MSDE

Consider using MSDE as a desktop database alternative to a Microsoft Access database in the following ways:

As a small workgroup server database. You develop your applications by using an Access project connected to MSDE. You anticipate that your workgroup and its business requirements may grow over time until they eventually need the full functionality of SQL Server 7.0 running on a larger network server.
As a replication subscriber in an SQL Server replicated database environment. For example, you may have mobile users working remotely from the main office who access and update MSDE on laptops or disconnected computers, but then periodically connect to the Master SQL Server database to reconcile changes.
To easily develop and test an Access project or client/server application on a personal computer or workstation, and then modify the Access project connection information to connect to an SQL Server database on a remote server for final testing and production.

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Installing MSDE

Although MSDE is not part of Microsoft Office 2000 or Microsoft Access 2000 standalone Setup, you can install MSDE from the CD-ROM by running Setupsql.exe located in the \Sql\x86\Setup folder.

The Microsoft Office 2000 version of MSDE also contains additional help files that are located in the \Windows\Help folder, the SQL Server Enterprise Manager Help (entmgr.chm) and the Replication Wizard Help (replwiz.chm), that you can use with the SQL Server database utilities available from the Access Tools menu.

Once you install MSDE on your computer, on Microsoft Windows 95 or later, you may need to start the SQL Server Service Manager (double-click the MSSQLServer icon on the task bar and click Start/Continue). MSDE starts automatically on Windows NT 4.0 or later; you might want to automatically start MSDE on Windows 95 or later by selecting the Auto-Start service when OS starts check box on the SQL Server Service Manager window.

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More information

Create an Access project using the Database Wizard

Connect an Access project to an SQL Server database

Learn about replication in a Microsoft Access project

Learn about using Microsoft SQL Server database utilities from Microsoft Access

Learn about Microsoft SQL Server documentation

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