Can Reporting Services use IIS on another server?

Reporting Services on SQL 2005 says that I must install IIS (its an
installation prerequisite).  Well, I really don't want to put IIS on a
production SQL Server.  I like IIS, but it certainly exposes a lot more
potential security holes on the server because any website hosting product
is always a security risk to that machine.   Besides, my SQL Server is not
exposed to the internet like my web servers, so I don't quite get why I
would even want IIS on the SQL Server.

I want to use Reporting Services, though.   Can I somehow use Reporting
Services against IIS on another server?  I'm not describing it well because
I've never used Reporting Services and I don't know if it, too, would be on
the other server, or what.  Can someone guide me as to my options here, and
what to install where to keep the SQL Server machine more secure and stable
but still have Reporting Services capabilities?  Thank you.

Yes.  You can install Reporting Services on an application (web) server
apart from your SQL database server.  In fact, this is a very common
installation technique.  Install and configure IIS on the desired server.  I
strongly recommend having a certificate on that server.  You can then
install Reporting Services 2005 on that server.  Once it is installed, you
can configure it to use your production SQL server for its back-end
databases using the Reporting Services Configuration tool.

I have two suggestions for getting started.  One, build a throwaway test
server to do your first testing and deployment on.  Second, purchase a good
book on Reporting Services.  Both will save you a lot of headaches.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP



"HK" < replywithingroup@not
real.com> wrote in message
news:RIzWf.19201$%d.2027@tornado.socal.rr.com...
> Reporting Services on SQL 2005 says that I must install IIS (its an
> installation prerequisite).  Well, I really don't want to put IIS on a
> production SQL Server.  I like IIS, but it certainly exposes a lot more
> potential security holes on the server because any website hosting product
> is always a security risk to that machine.   Besides, my SQL Server is not
> exposed to the internet like my web servers, so I don't quite get why I
> would even want IIS on the SQL Server.
>
> I want to use Reporting Services, though.   Can I somehow use Reporting
> Services against IIS on another server?  I'm not describing it well
> because
> I've never used Reporting Services and I don't know if it, too, would be
> on
> the other server, or what.  Can someone guide me as to my options here,
> and
> what to install where to keep the SQL Server machine more secure and
> stable
> but still have Reporting Services capabilities?  Thank you.
>
>

and what book would be a good book, Geoff?

"Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ekzZm91UGHA.5660@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Yes.  You can install Reporting Services on an application (web) server
> apart from your SQL database server.  In fact, this is a very common
> installation technique.  Install and configure IIS on the desired server.
> I strongly recommend having a certificate on that server.  You can then
> install Reporting Services 2005 on that server.  Once it is installed, you
> can configure it to use your production SQL server for its back-end
> databases using the Reporting Services Configuration tool.
>
> I have two suggestions for getting started.  One, build a throwaway test
> server to do your first testing and deployment on.  Second, purchase a
> good book on Reporting Services.  Both will save you a lot of headaches.
>
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
>
>
> "HK" < replywithingroup@not
real.com> wrote in message
> news:RIzWf.19201$%d.2027@tornado.socal.rr.com... 
>
>

Since I haven't seen an update to "Hitchhikers Guide to SQL Server 2000
Reporting Services" by Peter BlackBurn and William Vaughn, I will have to go
with "Microsoft SQL 2005 Reporting Services" by Brian Larson.  It was
written against the beta release which was very close to the production
version, and is geared towards the beginning Reporting Services user.  I
think there is a BI/Reporting Services volume forthcoming for the "Inside
SQL Server 2005" series, but I haven't seen a formal announcement yet.
Amazon has several other volumes in this series available for pre-order.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP




"Alex" <me@isp.net> wrote in message news:fDDWf.8879$Ph4.1246@edtnps90...
> and what book would be a good book, Geoff?
>
> "Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ekzZm91UGHA.5660@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... 
>
>

thanks Geoff

"Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23rccjA4UGHA.4792@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Since I haven't seen an update to "Hitchhikers Guide to SQL Server 2000
> Reporting Services" by Peter BlackBurn and William Vaughn, I will have to
> go with "Microsoft SQL 2005 Reporting Services" by Brian Larson.  It was
> written against the beta release which was very close to the production
> version, and is geared towards the beginning Reporting Services user.  I
> think there is a BI/Reporting Services volume forthcoming for the "Inside
> SQL Server 2005" series, but I haven't seen a formal announcement yet.
> Amazon has several other volumes in this series available for pre-order.
>
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
>
>
>
> "Alex" <me@isp.net> wrote in message news:fDDWf.8879$Ph4.1246@edtnps90... 
>
>