Hello again,

I have someone who is interested in running Joomla on a Windows server. This is non-negotible, as they're unable to move away from the Windows platform.

Now, I've followed the tutorial on getting Joomla to run on my local machine using WAMP, successfully. It's a great tutorial, and I had it working perfectly in a very shore period of time. The only problem is that WAMP still uses a MySQL database. It's possible that in the end this may be acceptable, but the question was raised (since Joomla now supports MS SQL databases), if it could be run from a database running under SQL Server 2008. Evidently, they'd like to datamap from the 'Contact' form to MS Dynamic CRM, and are under the impression that the easiest way to do this is if they are both running under SQL Server. I beg to differ, but it would be good to know the answer nonetheless.

I spent a bit of time trying to get Joomla to install locally by using the MS Web Platform Installer. All of my attempts have failed, and log reports say that there is no database connectivity. Since I'm using SQL Server, there is no pHpMyAdmin, and I've been forced to use the MS SQL Server Management Tool to try and sort through the connectivity issue. (yay!)

So, I guess my questions are: Has anyone successfully set up a local Joomla install under MS SQL Server, and if you have, can you shed a ray of light on how it was done? More importantly, aren't most Windows servers running WAMP anyway, and I'll have to find another way to map the 'Contact' form data back to the CRM?

I know this is kind of 'Bleeding Edge', but if anyone has any experience that can put me on the right track, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Will

Hi Will

I'm afraid we're an open source shop and don't have much experience running Joomla or other systems on the MS platform.

What I have heard about this is that it's bleeding edge indeed. Neither Joomla nor Drupal or other platforms work well with MSSQL. They can all be made to run on an IIS server, but the database part is considerably less well-supported.

Thanks Steve,

I'm an open source fan myself and I was really just trying to put out a feeler about working with a Joomla site running under the MS proprietary platform. The client is an authorized partner with MS and is contractually obligated to have the site running on a Windows server. Fortunately, they didn't specify whether the site has to be run on MSSQL, WAMP, or IIS Server, because at this time it looks like there's very little information out there on how to pull off the MSSQL or IIS Servers properly. I've talked with some folks who are familiar with MS, but they are as experienced with Joomla as I am with MS SQL Server, probably less.

So is it a fair guess to say that most of the relatively well known hosting providers that offer a Windows platform are setting it up using a WAMP configuration, or do they use the IIS Server? I'm not looking to hold you to an answer, just hoping that your expertise might save me from a bunch of wasted time doing R&D for an RFP.

Thanks again,
Will

Hi Will

Almost certainly IIS. I was sceptical in the last post about Joomla and MSSQL playing together nicely now, but I do see Joomla regularly working well on IIS and MySQL.

The only major downside to IIS is that the Search Engine Friendly URLs can need some extra configuring and there may occasionally be some PHP settings issues. In general though, you should be fine if you go with IIS and MySQL.

Thanks Steve,

I'm looking into what their contractual agreement with MS is exactly, and hopefully that will shed some light on the requirements that will be necessary for this project.

Again, I'm not holding you to it, but do you think it's possible to build a Joomla site on a WAMP server and then transfer it to an IIS server, and have it work correctly?

Thanks again,
Will

Hi Will

Yes, it will mostly work correctly. You might have some configuration options to tweak on the server, but I don't anticipate many at all.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate the direction.

As long as I can do what I say I can do in my proposal, I should be alright. If I have to contact the server company to iron out the config. specs., I can live with that. I just didn't want to get in over my head and open the door to a cost/time over-run situation. Your advice has given me some good insight on how I'll lay out the details of the proposal. You can mark this one as closed, and if I need further advice, you'll be hearing from me :)

Once again, thanks... Very appreciated.
You da man!

Will

Hi Will,

Steve's out of the office this morning, but on his and OSTraining's behalf, "You're welcome!" :)

Kind regards,
Nick