Database Options for Microsoft Project 2002

Updated : May 27, 2003

Microsoft Corporation

Applies to:
Microsoft Project Standard 2002
Microsoft Project Professional 2002
Microsoft Project Server 2002

Summary Determine which database management system is the correct database management system for your use of Microsoft Project 2002. (5 printed pages)

On This Page

Introduction
Enterprise and Workgroup Database Options
Stand-alone Database Options
Deployment Scenarios
Additional Information

Introduction

The information in this document describes the database management systems that can be used with Microsoft® Project® Standard 2002, Microsoft Project Professional 2002, and Microsoft Project Server. These database options depend on your deployment scenario (enterprise, workgroup, or stand-alone), and are further described in Table 1.

Table 1 Database options for Microsoft Project 2002

Enterprise and Workgroup Database Options

Both Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (recommended) and MSDE 2000 (see limitations below) can be used with Microsoft Project Server in enterprise and workgroup deployment scenarios. When using either SQL Server 2000 or MSDE 2000 as the repository for the Microsoft Project Server database, you can enable document sharing using SharePoint™ Team Services from Microsoft 1.0, and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) reporting using Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services.

SQL Server 2000 Overview

SQL Server 2000 is a well-suited choice for an enterprise database management system. Its unique performance optimizations, such as table variables and user-defined functions, are not available in any other database management system.

Note: Portfolio Analyzer, an enterprise feature of Microsoft Project Server, requires Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), which is only available as part of SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services (and included in SQL Server 2000). MSDE 2000 can still be used as the repository for the Microsoft Project Server database as long as SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services is providing the OLAP services for Portfolio Analyzer.

SQL Server Enterprise or SQL Server Standard

Microsoft Project Server 2002 deployment requires either Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition or Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition. During the planning process, you should evaluate the different capabilities of both SQL versions to determine which one will meet your organization's needs. The main differences are in the areas of scalability, performance, and analysis services.

Microsoft Project Server 2002 doesn't differentiate between the two versions of SQL Server 2000 and Project Server enterprise features are available with both versions. Depending on your organization's deployment goals, you may require the extended features and performance offered by SQL Server Enterprise. The table below lists the differences between the two SQL versions, as they apply to Project Server 2002.

Microsoft Data Engine 2000 Overview

The limitations to using MSDE 2000 instead of SQL Server 2000 include:

• Low number of batch workload connections

  MSDE 2000 has a managed concurrency workload governor that limits up to five concurrent batch workloads for optimal performance, although MSDE does not place a limit on the total number of users who can connect to the database. As batch workloads are added that increase the number past five, the concurrency governor slows the system, thus affecting the overall performance of the MSDE database.

• Limited database size

  MSDE 2000 supports up to a 2.0 gigabyte (GB) database. A single computer can host up to 16 instances of MSDE, with each instance supporting up to a 2.0 GB database.

• Limited memory usage

  Each instance of MSDE 2000 is limited to 1.0 GB memory, regardless of how much memory is available on the computer.

• Administration tools

  MSDE 2000 lacks the administration tools that are provided with SQL Server 2000, including Enterprise Manager, Query Analyzer, and SQL Server Profiler. All administration must be performed using the command-line tool OSQL, a utility that allows improvised, interactive execution of Transact-SQL statements and scripts or by using the administration tools installed through a separate instance of SQL Server 2000.

Note: MSDE 2000 is included with Microsoft Project Server 2002. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 is not bundled with Microsoft Project Server 2002, and must be purchased separately. For more information about MSDE 2000, see the MSDE 2000 article. For more information about OSQL, see the osql Utility section in the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SDK.

Stand-alone Database Options

If you do not require enterprise or workgroup functionality when using Microsoft Project Standard 2002 or Microsoft Project Professional 2002, but still want to save project data to a database repository using Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), you can use any of the following supported database management systems:

• SQL Server 7.0 or SQL Server 2000

• MSDE 7.0 or MSDE 2000

• Access 2000 or later

• Oracle 8ix or later

Deployment Scenarios

Table 2 lists the deployment options (enterprise, workgroup, or stand-alone), the database management system requirements, and accompanying Microsoft Project features.

Table 2 Deployment scenario, requirements and features

Additional Information

The following links provide additional resources for deploying Microsoft Project and databases in an integrated project management solution:

• Microsoft Project Standard vs. Microsoft Project Professional

• Microsoft Project 2002 Enterprise Project Management Architecture

• Microsoft Project Server 2002 Architecture and Extensibility