I am trying to install the above on my pc but keep continuously getting this really annoying message about having a sapwd on the administrators account (Need I really have said that hence <b>SA</b>)

Just like to know if there is another server I can get my hands on for absolutely nothing as I I have a mate from the army days who has got hundreds and hundreds of films and photos that he will let me have should I access his pc via net bios...but as I don't have a server I cannot do it...I assume this is my problem anyway...

Please no suggestions about using MSN as I know I could but i'm talking like 200gb here...that would take a little bit to much time IMO...

Not sure about the other gubbins, but if you want an MSSQL replacement there's alway MySQL (http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/4.0.html)

I use Firebird (http://firebird.sourceforge.net/), u can check out how it compares to M$ produce here: http://www.dotnetfirebird.org/features/

another vote for mysql here. Go opensource:
Apache web server
MySQL database
Mambo content server
Openoffice for your home PC.
If you don't want to download 'em all we sell them on CD for £5+VAT and donate the proceeds to charity. Thats Very PC.

MySQL gets my vote too. We've implemented it on a number of our servers at work, phasing out MS.

I've also set up a development streaming media server. It's the first time I've done it professionally, and was amazed at how easy and pre-configured Apache and MySQL and all the relevant components were with Fedora Core 3.

The latest Beta version of OpenOffice is outstanding - especially the database creator - the wizard writes the database in SQL for you!

Erm. You dont use SQL to connect to another PC via netbios. I think you are confused.

MS-SQL is a relational database management system (if you don't know what it is you definatly don't want to be playing with it).

Netbios is a broadcast protocol used for LAN connected machines and is more to do with name resolution and data sessions than transfering files over the internet.

There are several ways you can transfer files between each other. FTP, P2P, HTTP, dcc. You definatly don't want to be playing with netbios or sql.

Indidently, If you have installed SQL Server 2000 on your pc and it's unpatched and/or without an SA password and it's connected directly to the internet (with an internet IP address), you may as well consider yourself hacked already and do a complete format. At the very least you have quite a high chance of having a worm (slammer or variants).

I would agree with punk, although he may be a little over-anxious about your risk of being hacked. Although it is a strong possibility. :)

If it IS a database you're looking for, then the if you've got the SQL Server discs and forgotten the sa password then simply remove the installation and re-install.

The only thing with mySQL is the lack of stuff like Transaction...Rollback.

And if the files you're trying to copy are less than legal, then shame on you for asking here!

Joe

over-anxious about your risk of being hacked

I hate to disagree with you Joe but mssql is one of the biggest security holes (almost always due to being misconfigured (read: null SA password) and/or unpatched).

Don't just take my word for it, the SANS institue has it as the 4th most serious Windows system Vulnerability here... http://www.sans.org/top20/#w4

Taken from the above webpage...

"Two recent MSSQL worms in May 2002 and January 2003 exploited several known MSSQL flaws. Hosts compromised by these worms generate a damaging level of network traffic when they scan for other vulnerable hosts."

and...

"Port 1433 and 1434 (MSSQL server and monitor default ports) have also been regularly registered as two of the most frequently scanned ports by the Internet Storm Centre."

So not only do you have 2 major worms (albeit well past their peak), but you also have a mass of people actively scanning for open ports. If you installed SQL with the local system account or gave it an administrator account then by gaining access to SU you have complete control of the system.

Considering all this and also considering I didn't reply for 7 hours I think it reasonable to say if he has an internet (and none-firewalled) IP address he should consider himself hacked :)

Bob dude wanted to share some files, i pointed him to IIS FTP and gave him some tutorials, nothing to do wiv RDB systems in the end... :thumbsup:

Bob dude wanted to share some files, i pointed him to IIS FTP and gave him some tutorials, nothing to do wiv RDB systems in the end...

Thought he was barking up the wrong tree. I personally wouldn't have recommended IIS for the job though, it can be nearly as painful to install as MSSQL for the uninitiated (hope you also talked him through getting rid of the SMTP service, turning off anonymous FTP, using the lockdown tool, patching etc, etc).

Filezilla is opensource, designed specifically for the task and is free: http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/

I thought Id let the chap play wiv it on his own as he seems to like exploring :wink:

for providing ftp I found a bit of freeware called Cerberus FTP, seems pretty stable, easily configurable and secure.

JP - mySql supports transactions now!!!

Dead right, I do like to play and work things out for myself but going nowhere with this one...Indidently, If you have installed SQL Server 2000 on your pc I haven't installed MSSQL, I tried but wouldn't install cos of the sapwd...

So how do I access my mates pc then cos it's doing my head in now...I can't understand why I can access "Well to correct myself I can view my pc and the fact that nothing is shared" via netbios but can't seem to get near my mates as it just says error 58, host not found or summit to that effect....???

Originally posted by BobDaBuilder
So how do I access my mates pc then cos it's doing my head in now...I can't understand why I can access "Well to correct myself I can view my pc and the fact that nothing is shared" via netbios but can't seem to get near my mates as it just says error 58, host not found or summit to that effect....???


Lets start again from the beginning.

1) What kind of file types are on your mate's PC that you're trying to access?

2) What kind of internet connections do you both have?

3) What operating systems are you running?

Originally posted by Cyclone
for providing ftp I found a bit of freeware called Cerberus FTP, seems pretty stable, easily configurable and secure.

JP - mySql supports transactions now!!!

Oooh! Which version?

Last time I bothered looking a few months back the current stable version didn't!

Excellent! Must play!

Joe

Fair enough punk.

I did make an assumption of a running Firewall and AVG software in place, as I thought that most folks did that nowadays.

I stand corrected!

I guess I'm just used to working with competent DBAs.... :)

Joe

Originally posted by alchresearch
Lets start again from the beginning.

1) What kind of file types are on your mate's PC that you're trying to access?

2) What kind of internet connections do you both have?

3) What operating systems are you running?

Right....
1) MPG's and AVI's
2) Both on BB, I use 512 and I think he's on 128
3) Both XP although I use Pro & think he uses Home...?

Why is it that I have been advised not to use net bios as I would have thought that would be pretty straight forward as long as I done it all right...eg: net view \\ <IP Address>

then:
Net use x: \\ <IP Address>\file name

Access granted....

Only thing is this doesn't seem to make a connection...???

I can connect to my own pc this way when I have shared files but not his..??

Why is it that I have been advised not to use net bios as I would have thought that would be pretty straight forward as long as I done it all right...eg: net view \\ <IP Address>

Netbios (or Server Message Block as is more commonly used in 2k/XP) was never designed for sharing folders (or printers) over the Internet. It was designed (and is intended)for use on LANs.

Most decent ISPs will actually block Netbios or SMB traffic from leaving the clients network. Also most personal firewalls will block any netbios traffic thats originated from outside of the interfaces subnet.

There are several reasons for this. The most important is that simple windows shares don't require a username and/or password to connect to them. So by using the method you state above (\\ip\foldername) people could connect to all the files you have on your computer and read, delete, alter as they see fit. Netbios port 139 and SMB port 445 are between them by far and away the most port scanned ports for this exact reason.

Another reason is that many people enable networking and never alter the default workgroup from either "mshome" or "workgroup". If you have netbios travelling outside of the intended LAN (ie: over your network connection) you can end up with converged networks.

You can also get information from remote computers using netbios (using nbtstat) including MAC address, hostname, workgroup and perhaps worst of all logged in users.

You don't want netbios traffic leaving your local network if at all possible (and if it is you want STRONG passwords on all windows shares).

There are a ton of ways to share things over the internet. AS mentioned before: FTP, P2P, HTTP, dcc are just some of the ways you can do it.

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Oooh! Which version?

Last time I bothered looking a few months back the current stable version didn't!

Excellent! Must play!

Joe

ermm, whichever one supports clustering. The standalone version still doesn't seem to do transactions, but running clustered it does.