Best Practices for CF9 Installation w/IIS Server

[kwbarclay]

I am brand new to coldfusion and would like some guidance on the installation location.

I have two servers both running IIS on WS2008. Server 1 is my primary Database server running MS SQL2005 and Server 2 is my dedicated web server.

I plan on developing Flash/CF Builders from my PC.  Just looking for recommendations for best CF9 installation configuration.

Thanks,

Kurt

[ilssac]

Your question is rather broad, if you could provide some more deatils it would give us something to work with.

If you are asking whether to install CF on your Database server or your Web Server, the most common approach is to install it on the web server.  Database servers have enough work to do just dealing with the data.

A few people use a seperate application server in what Adobe nee Macromedia nee Allair call "Distributed Mode."  This allows some more advanced server management options, but few people bother with it.

Your biggest choice is going to be what flavor of CF do you plan to install, Standard, Enterprise-Standalone, Enterprise-Multi-Home or Enterprise-J2EE?

[kwbarclay]

Thanks Ian for the reply ... I know it's rather broad.

You did answer my basic question as to where to install ... web server.

I do GIS (geographic information systems) for a living and have very limited experience in this arena.

My basic concept is to do the following:

• Install/Develop Flash/CFBuilder on my Windows PC
• Connect to DB on seperate sever (SQL05)
• Serve out on separtate Web server.

My initial thought is to install standard based on some sessions view on lynda.com, but I am receptive to any recommendations.

Again, thank you for your input.

[ilssac]

Can you clairify what you mean by "Server out on seperate Web server"

Just to make sure you are looking to host a publically available web site?  Not just do something for yourself.  If you are just looking for something to work with yourself, the Developer Edition of ColdFusion is free and easy to use.

Assuming you want to server a public web site, are you hosting it or planning on uses a hosting provider?  Shared hosting, or some form of dedicated server (VM or physical)?  If you are going with the hosting provider they may provide the cost of CF in their hosting plan.

If you are going to host your own, the Standard license of ColdFusion is sufficient for 70% to 80% of the people who use CF.

[kwbarclay]

You are correct on public sites.

"Server out .."  generally meaing that this sever will be serving out any/all websites developed.

Right now I will be the only one develping and serving for my own use (to be consumed by public), but I don't plan on offering hosting services.

[ilssac · Accepted solution]

I would also want to mention that you may want to understand how you plan to integrate systems if you plan to use any of the GIS servers that are out there.

[kwbarclay]

Thank You Ian, I'll do a little more homework on the

GIS integration.  I truly appreciate your time and effort.

Kurt

[gotham65000]

We are upgrading from CF 8 on 32 bit Windows to CF 9 on 64 bit Windows 2008.  We are still using SQL Server 2005 on a 32-bit Win2003 server and are seeing poor performance from the CF9 build.  Everything looks right, but I'm thinking there is a driver issue.  What SQL driver should be installed on the CF9 server to connect efficiently to the SQL Server? 

Thanks