<rant>

We sell software that requires SQL Server for the database...nothing unusual there. It is listed in the system requirements that SQL Server 2008 or above must be installed for the software to function.

Most of our customers are smaller companies, and quite often all their server is doing is sharing files.

The amount of customers who just pass it onto their IT dept to install as a last minute job. No clue about permissions or possible implications of setup. One even asked if they could install SQL 2008 on a Buffalo NAS drive. :think:

We get it in the neck when the software doesn't work properly.

We tell them to get their IT to sort their server out as SQL server is not our software, and their responsibility to administer .

It's required by your software so you should fix it....

We cannot touch your server, only our software....

Round it goes

</rant>

Now where you see problems, I see opportunity...

"Of course we can install and set this up for you, provided that you give us full access to your network, sign a contract for support, and pay us lots of money"

Then there comes the aspect of liability when it goes wrong....

The contract says "We hold no liability for issues past the initial install and setup - any further issues are classed as new problems and will be dealt with as such"

Pen testers love SQL server. There are always account to exploit there or other vulnerabilities to create privileged accounts. Devs can never be bothered to set the things up properly or remove the bits and pieces they've done for testing.

I find apache derby, hsql or any other embedded db great. Espe illy if you ship it as a box.

Now where you see problems, I see opportunity...

"Of course we can install and set this up for you, provided that you give us full access to your network, sign a contract for support, and pay us lots of money"

Then there comes the aspect of liability when it goes wrong....

Its called a Maintence Contract

You can make more money from that than the initial sale of the software

Look at the potential of 'black box' offering - like cheezemonkhai mentions, pre-installed and configured server - ideally as a VMware machine (pre-configured virtual black boxes like this are often called virtual appliances )

ps

Another option would be to look at 'Cloud' delivery - eg you run the servers remotely for you customers, and they basically just access a secure website

ps

Another option would be to look at 'Cloud' delivery - eg you run the servers remotely for you customers, and they basically just access a secure website

We do offer a hosted solution already.

Customer pays us X per month, and we configure it all, and simply say here's how you access it.

Funnily enough we have no problem from these customers.

Just the ones that see the cost, thing screw that we've got our own server, we'll host the database.

I'd look at the VMware virtual black box option then

If customers too tight to buy a new server, install VMware server for Windows onto their box

Very easy to install, probably less impact on whatever the box is already doing than SQL server

Then copy across from USB HDD the files than consistute the VMware machine you've setup and configured, Fire it up and reconfigure network interface and naming issues required to hook into clients network - you should be good to go

Makes backing up a complete doddle, any problems, issues, upgrades, etc, the client can send the server files back to you.

On 1 side I can see your POV it's like a customer blaming a car manufacturer for a fuel issue. The car cannot run without the fuel but the support for each product is not linked.

However, as mentioned this does provided opportunities for either your company or another partner company who could provide the support and you just take a commission from each lead you give them.

Out of interest, what does your software do?

Out of interest, what does your software do?

Stock control and order processing.

Could you not bundle the software with SQL 2008 R2 express edition, it has far less restrictions than earlier versions and is free for the end user. Stock control and order processing should not generate a particularly large database, and using the free version should in theory increase sales of the software.

Could you not bundle the software with SQL 2008 R2 express edition, it has far less restrictions than earlier versions and is free for the end user. Stock control and order processing should not generate a particularly large database, and using the free version should in theory increase sales of the software.

We do this already. Database size is not the problem.

Express is fine for smaller clients, however bigger customers with thousands of products and customers, and lots of users accessing the system simultaneously, it runs slow because of the 1GB RAM limit and 1 socket/4 core limitation on Express.

Well we do a lot of OEM appliances, so if you want to find out about selling on an appliance with a free DB system on it, feel free to drop a PM.

I can certainly put you in contact with some resellers who I'm sure would be more than happy to cut a deal on the hardware.