Index
Contents
How Do I...

# Specify database settings You can specify collaboration database connection settings for a server by using the Database Connection page. You can set the default database settings to use for all Web sites on your server by using the Set Installation Defaults page.
| About the collaboration database
Microsoft SharePoint relies on a Microsoft SQL Server (either SQL Server 7.0 or MSDE) database to store information such as: List data Information about Events, Announcements, Tasks, Contacts, and other lists in a Microsoft SharePoint-based team Web site Document library information Properties, such as document title, date, and size Discussion and subscription data Subscription information and the actual threaded comments from discussions Security data Each virtual server has its own database. The Webs and subwebs on that virtual server share the database, although their information is stored in separate tables within the database. As a server administrator, you can specify database settings. For example, you can schedule automatic back-up processes or specify the default database to use for all Webs on a virtual server. Administrators with rights to the virtual server can back up or restore the database for the entire virtual server.
| About installation defaults
You use the Set Installation Defaults page in the Server Administration pages to specify default settings for your server. Except for the SQL Server database settings, these policies are inherited by each virtual server and subweb unless the administrator for that virtual server or subweb changes the setting on the virtual server or site administration pages. The SQL Server database settings are copied into the registry for each virtual server, so if you want to change the database settings, you must do so both for the server and for each virtual server. You can set default settings for:
| Database settings
Specify the SQL Server database server name, database administration user name, and database administrator password to use for any Web sites on your server. Or, select the Use local MSDE database server check box to use an MSDE database rather than SQL Server. Only SQL Server settings are copied into the virtual server registry settings. MSDE settings are inherited as are the other settings on this page. If you want to change the SQL Server database settings for all virtual servers on this server, you must change the settings here and also on the Change Database Connection page for each virtual server.
| Web document discussions
Specify whether Web document discussions are available on your server, where to allow Web document discussions, and whether to delete stored discussions automatically after a certain period of time. Web site administrators can change these settings by using the Site Administration page for their Web site.
| Web subscriptions
Specify whether Web subscriptions are available on your server, the type of content to allow subscriptions for, and when immediate, daily, and weekly subscription notices will be sent. Web site administrators can change these settings by using the Site Administration page for their Web site.
| Usage analysis
Specify whether usage analysis log processing is on or off for your server, schedule the usage processing for daily, weekly, or monthly intervals, specify whether to automatically delete the usage data after a certain period of time, and specify whether to process the log file data for full days only. Web site administrators can change these settings by using the Site Administration page for their Web site.
| Server health
Specify whether server health is turned on or off for your server, and specify when the server health checks will be performed. Web site administrators can change these settings by using the Site Administration page for their Web site.
| Mail settings
Specify the SMTP mail server to use and the from and reply-to addresses to use. Server administrators can change these settings by using the Change Configuration Settings page for their virtual server. Web site administrators can also change the from and reply-to addresses by using the Site Administration page for their Web site.
| Security settings
Specify whether to log authoring actions, require Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for authoring and administration, or allow users to upload executable files. Server administrators can change these settings by using the Change Configuration Settings page for their virtual server. Note Installation defaults are not enforced. Only the SQL Server database settings are copied to the registry for virtual servers. A Web site or virtual server administrator can change the other settings from their defaults. For example, when you disable Web document discussions by default, a Web site or virtual server administrator can still decide to turn them on for a particular virtual server or Web site.
| To specify database settings for a virtual server
3. On the Server Administration page, under Virtual Servers, click Administration next to the virtual server you want to modify. Under Administration, click Change database connection. Do one of the following:
   | To specify the SQL Server database to use
   In the Database server name box, type the server name that the SQL Server database is on. In the Database name box, type the name to use for the database, if necessary. In the Database administrator user name box, type the administrator name for the database. In the Database administrator password box, type the administrator password.
   | To use a local MSDE database
Select the Use local MSDE database server check box. Note If SQL Server was already installed on your server computer when you installed Microsoft SharePoint, you may not see this option. Click Submit.
| To specify default database settings for a server
2. On the Server Administration page, click Set Installation Defaults. In the Database Settings area, do one of the following:
   | To specify the SQL Server database to use
   In the Database server name box, type the server name that the SQL Server database is on. In the Database administrator user name box, type the administrator name for the database. In the Database administrator password box, type the administrator password.
   | To use a local MSDE database
Select the Use local MSDE database server check box. Note If SQL Server was already installed on your server computer when you installed Microsoft SharePoint, you may not see this option. Click Submit.