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21. Connecting Access to SQL Server > Getting Started: SQL Server Express
Before you can start using SQL Server Express, you need to install it. This process is long and it involves downloading some very big files—71 MB (megabytes) at the least. If you’re still using a dial-up connection, it could take you a few mind-numbing hours.
Note
Everything you learn in this chapter about Access and SQL Server Express also applies to the full version of SQL Server. However, if you have that version, you obviously don’t need to follow the download steps described here—instead, you can pop in your setup DVD and get going right away.
If you plan to run SQL Server Express on a server computer and share it with a bunch of people, the setup process can be a bit challenging. Simply installing SQL Server Express isn’t enough; you also need to configure it so other people can access it over a network, and then to grant these people permission to use specific databases. The following sections provide a basic overview of the steps. If your goal is to experiment with SQL Server and practice your Access upsizing skills, this chapter is quite possibly all the information you need to get started. But if you’re trying to set up a production server—that is, an instance of SQL Server that hosts real data and runs a real application on a company network—get a skilled network administrator to help you out.
