Install and Use the IIS Database Manager to Manage a Remote SQL Server or MySQL Database

The IIS Database Manager is a *great* tool for connecting to, and managing, remote databases - both Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL databases. But don't install it from Microsoft's site or even WebPI or you'll just get headaches.

If you want to use it, first be sure that your web host supports it. Both OrcsWeb (managed hosting) and Cytanium (discount shared hosting) support it by default on new sites.

After you have a host that supports it, let's get it installed and working. What do you need to install? Really you just need to install the IIS7 Remote Management services. It runs on Windows XP and above and *does not* require IIS running on your local machine (a common point of confusion). It can be easily installed with WebPI:

Here is a blog post with more details and screen shots on getting it installed and then connecting to your remote site with it: http://www.orcsweb.com/blog/brad/iis-7-manager-for-remote-administration-installing-and-connecting-to-a-site/

Once you make a connection to your site the IIS7 Remote Manager will communicate with the remote server, and if it recognizes that the remote server supports the IIS Database Manager it will automatically prompt you to install the needed components:

Notice that the Database Manager is the fourth item in the list of components that the IIS7 Remote Management services recognized that I needed to install (or update) on my system for full remote management of my site and services.

Once you let that install complete, you can scroll down in your IIS management interface to the Management section and you'll see the icon to lauch the Database Manager.

Once launched you just define your connection information and, like magic, you can see and manage your database remotely!

Happy hosting!