One database or Many database?

Hello All,
I am trying to design a database just like "NorthWind", but the difference
is this database will handle a lot of companies. The first thing I cannot
decide is, use one database to control all companies or each company has one
database.
The relative questions are:
1. Which one has better performance;
2. How many databases SQL server can have;
Any help will be appreciated.
MikeThe answer to 1 is, it depends on the application. The answer to 2 is,
as many as you have room for. I'd recommend getting a good book on
relational database design, like Mike Hernandez' "Database Design for
Mere Mortals", Microsoft Press. There aren't any cut-and-dried answers
to these kind of questions without understanding your specs.
-- Mary
MCW Technologies
http://www.mcwtech.com
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 15:51:54 -0500, "Mike Lincoln"
<mlincoln001@.hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hello All,
>I am trying to design a database just like "NorthWind", but the difference
>is this database will handle a lot of companies. The first thing I cannot
>decide is, use one database to control all companies or each company has one
>database.
>The relative questions are:
>1. Which one has better performance;
>2. How many databases SQL server can have;
>Any help will be appreciated.
>Mike
>|||> 1. Which one has better performance;
Like just about any other computing task with multiple paths, it depends.
> 2. How many databases SQL server can have;
32,767
http://www.aspfaq.com/2345
--
Aaron Bertrand
SQL Server MVP
http://www.aspfaq.com/|||Thank you, Guys. It helped a lot. I will think about this and post a
detailed project description later. Have a nice day and merry Cristmas.
Mike
"Mike Lincoln" <mlincoln001@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uWA0b30wDHA.2396@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Hello All,
> I am trying to design a database just like "NorthWind", but the difference
> is this database will handle a lot of companies. The first thing I cannot
> decide is, use one database to control all companies or each company has
one
> database.
> The relative questions are:
> 1. Which one has better performance;
> 2. How many databases SQL server can have;
> Any help will be appreciated.
> Mike
>|||One of the things no one mentioned was security... If you put all companies
information into a single database you must rely on views and Sps
(probably ) for security... It is more likely that one company might be
able to see another company's data...
When each company's information is stored in a different database, standard
sql security can assist to ensure data is secure...
Also consider backup/restore needs. With all data in a single database, if
one company needs to restore, then all companies will be restored...
--
Wayne Snyder MCDBA, SQL Server MVP
Computer Education Services Corporation (CESC), Charlotte, NC
(Please respond only to the newsgroups.)
I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
(www.sqlpass.org)
"Mike Lincoln" <mlincoln001@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uWA0b30wDHA.2396@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Hello All,
> I am trying to design a database just like "NorthWind", but the difference
> is this database will handle a lot of companies. The first thing I cannot
> decide is, use one database to control all companies or each company has
one
> database.
> The relative questions are:
> 1. Which one has better performance;
> 2. How many databases SQL server can have;
> Any help will be appreciated.
> Mike
>sql