myLittleAdmin Web-Based SQL Manager Packs a Big Punch - Page 2

Using myLittleAdmin

Once you go to the myLittleAdmin main page in your web browser, you will be presented with a couple of different ways to log into the MS SQL server, DSN-less or DSN (Figure 3). DSN-less gives you the most control over how you log into your database. DSN allows you to log in with only the DSN name and a username/password. In either case, you can also log in with a User Level password that grants you extra privileges depending on how you set your config file.

Once you have logged in, the interface feels much like Microsoft's Enterprise Manager, so if you have been using Enterprise Manager, you are already right at home. You will see a folder for databases, management, security and tools (Figure 4).

You will notice if you click on any particular database, you will get detailed statistics on the database itself, including file MDF and log file sizes, backup dates, total disk size, and so forth. This is great information for hosted customers to have because it gives them basic information that might not be available in the control panel you use for hosting. You will also notice the many things you can work with including tables, views, stored procedures, etc.

Databases

You can easily create a new database by clicking the Databases folder itself. From this menu, you have several options. These include creating a new database, renaming a database, viewing database info/space usage, generating SQL script that you can use to recreate the database, backing up a database, detaching a database, and deleting a database (Figure 5). This view can be turned on or off for web hosted customers, say for example, if the database was created through a control panel and you did not want your customers to manage the creation/deletion of databases unless it was through your control panel.

Tables

Clicking on the table menu brings up a list of tables in that database (Figure 6). You have many options from here, including creating a new table (the yellow star at the top right), adding content to the table, searching for data within the table, renaming the table, managing the table structure, (to include relationships, triggers, constraints, and indexes), creating the SQL code to create the table, and deleting the table.

Viewing table content is simple. Click the content icon and you can instantly see your data (Figure 7). From here, you can add data, search for data, create XML, CSV and edit the table structure. Moreover, once you create an index on a table with a primary key, you can then easily edit the data in the table as well (Figure 8).

Figure 9 shows how detailed you can get with your table structure. You can edit table structure quickly and easily, including defining indexes, relationships, triggers and constraints. All very powerful features of MS SQL 2000.

Stored Procedures

Stored procedures are a powerful feature of MS SQL. Like just about everything else in myLittleAdmin, stored procedures are a breeze to set up and manage. You can easily edit, view, export as SQL, and delete stored procedures through the stored procedure menu (Figure 10).

Creating stored procedures is about as straightforward as it gets (Figure 11).

Managing DB Users

Managing users and their DB permissions can easily be done, just as it can in Microsoft Enterprise Manager, by editing the particular user through the users menu for the database (Figures 12 and 13). Managing Roles is just as simple through a similar menu. Again, these features can be turned on or off depending on your need. Moreover, just like Microsoft Enterprise Manager, you can manage system level users in the same way, separately from the database users.

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Figure 13. Managing Permissions

Query Analyzer

Arguably, Query Analyzer is one of the most powerful features of SQL Server, and I am glad to see it as part of myLittleAdmin (Figure 14). From here, all sorts of queries can be run, just like in Microsoft's Enterprise Manager.

Management, Security, and Tools

Like Microsoft's Enterprise Manager, myLittleTools can help administrators by giving insight to the system-level operation of their servers. myLittleAdmin allows administrators to create, edit, and delete system users, create backup devices and backup databases, attach databases, watch processes, and see the locks on databases. Unfortunately, unlike Enterprise Manager, you cannot kill processes through myLittleAdmin.

Some of the noteworthy features here include a nifty Generate Insert Scripts feature which allows you to easy create SQL code that takes the data in your tables and creates an Insert script that you can then use to rebuild the table and data, should you need it later.

You can also import data from an external database into your SQL database using a CSV file of data exported from your external database. No doubt, this will come in handy for tons of folks who are trying to move their database from one host to another.

Administrators can easily backup databases to devices they have set up in myLittleAdmin and Restore them as necessary, as well. I would have liked to see the ability to restore a database from a local disk, since I often have customers asking me to restore their database for them and have to copy the DB to the server before I can restore it.

Keep in mind, there are some features missing. Data Transformation Services is not included. In addition, administrative tasks are still missing, like creating Database Maintenance plans and viewing SQL Server logs.

Other things to consider

myLittleAdmin is skinnable. That means you can give it your own look and feel to match your own web site. The code is open and written in ASP, so someone with some good knowledge of ASP can make this tool look even better. You can customize the icons, change the text and so on.

myLittleTools' support is excellent! Prompt, courteous, and helpful. While I have rarely had an occasion to ask for support, it is good knowing it is there when I need it. They are also willing to listen to their customers for ideas and feedback on their products.

Conclusion

A host is only as good as the features it offers. The power, flexibility, and affordability of myLittleTools' myLittleAdmin for MS SQL Server makes this product a must-have if you are going to be offering MS SQL Server hosting and want to keep your customers happy. This product comes highly recommended!