Question on Databases

Just a quick question about databases... Can PHP be used to connect to Microsoft SQL? And if so, is it much different then connecting to MySQL as far as putting in code into the pages and such?

Thanks for the answers!

The Squirrel

You can connect to MSSQL and there is an extension in php that allows you to do it. There are many functions that allow you to connect just like MySQL... here is a link...

http://us2.php.net/manual/en/ref.mssql.php

Cool, thanks for the link and the answer.

Edit: Is it too hard to connect from a different machine? We have our webserver and database's on two different machines.
Would there be more security risks in connecting to a different machine?

The Squirrel

It should not be any harder than connecting to a db on the same machine.

edit:

As far as security goes, anytime you have a DB server accesible over the internet withou using a vpn or ssl connection, you have a security risk. What I have done in the past is to put two NIC cards in a the web server one on the public address and one on a private address of the network. This allows me to connect to my DB through the private network that is not accesible to the internet (db server is connected to the private network only) thus reducing its exposure to internet hackers and viruses. Also we use an encryption package on the MSSQL DB as well. Hope that makes sense!!!

It makes perfect sense. I thank you for your comments on the matter and hopefully now I can get the database that will be used for our site working properly. Back to work I go.

The Squirrel