WebTechniques: Someone Else's Database | ServerWatch

WebTechniques: Someone Else’s Database

Jul 20, 2010
ServerWatch content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More



It’s common for companies to set up their servers and hosting agreements such that they must
rely on someone else’s choice of a database. If your company is in this position, it’s possible
you made a trade-off somewhere, perhaps in choosing a less expensive, virtually hosted
arrangement instead of colocating a machine. Or, perhaps your business slings code for a
number of clients, and each of them uses a different hosting provider. In this case, you may
work with a different database server and operating system for each client. Whatever the
circumstances, it’s a fact that a Web host often controls the choice of the database you use,
and your access to it.

“… To get started with one of these database servers, first you must obtain some information from
your hosting provider. On Unix-based systems, this information usually consists of a
username, a password, and the name of the database to which you want to connect. Note that
this is the name of the database as designated by the administrator, not simply the product
name. When I use the word “database” as opposed to “database server” in this context, I mean
that portion of the database server reserved for your use. Think of it as the database server’s
equivalent of a home directory. …”
It’s common for companies to set up their servers and hosting agreements such that they must
rely on someone else’s choice of a database. If your company is in this position, it’s possible
you made a trade-off somewhere, perhaps in choosing a less expensive, virtually hosted
arrangement instead of colocating a machine. Or, perhaps your business slings code for a
number of clients, and each of them uses a different hosting provider. In this case, you may
work with a different database server and operating system f

ServerWatch Logo

ServerWatch is a top resource on servers. Explore the latest news, reviews and guides for server administrators now.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.