(mike@rumblegroup.com) writes:
> I am trying to determine what the overhead is per database in SQL
> Server 2000 Standard. I have the option to put several customers in one
> database, or give each customer their own database. I would like to put
> each customer in their own database to simplify maintenance and
> strengthen security.

Putting all customers in the same database may be a good idea if
the customers does not access the data themselves.

But since you say "security", I assume that the customers will access
the databases.

One can handle security for customers in a shared database, so that
they only see their own data, but:

o If there is a slip somewhere, a customer can by mistake get access
to someone else's data.
o Even if correctly implemented, "Row-level security" is not waterproof,
since the views that typically implement such scheme can be provoked
to leak information.

And if the overhead of many databases are your only concern, there is
no reason for doubt. As Mike said, the overhead is negligible. You
will have to automate backups and all that, but that is not a major
issue.



--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel@sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server SP3 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinf...2000/books.asp