PHP connect to SQL server on different machines - php

Question

I have a PHP website on a Windows machine and would like to insert data DIRECTLY to SQL database which is located on IIS server on a different machine?
Which approach shall I follow?
**My initial thought was to divert to a PHP page hosted by IIS that executes a query and then redirect back to my website. However, I prefer something easier and less complicated approach.
IIS is on Windows Server 2008 R2.
Your help is appreciated very much. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you're using PHP, you can open a connection to a database on another machine using PDO:
$remotedb = new PDO("*dbtype*:dbname=*dbname*;host=*addressOfOtherMachine*", $user, $password);
http://www.php.net/manual/en/class.pdo.php

Answer 2

I use SQLSRV in PHP to connect to a database on an IIS6 machine with 2008 R2. I believe the remote machine must allow remote connections and needs to be turned on through the settings if it isn't. Here is what my connection string looks like:
<?php
/* NEW CONNECTION FOR SQLSRV DRIVER (for MSSQL access) */
$uid = "username";
$pwd = "password";
$DB = "database_name";
$serverName = "ip_address_of_remote_server (example: 192.168.0.25)";
$connectionInfo = array("UID" => $uid, "PWD" => $pwd, "Database"=> $DB, "ReturnDatesAsStrings" => true);
$conn = sqlsrv_connect( $serverName, $connectionInfo);
?>
Here is a sample parameterized insert query using the connection:
<?php
$p1 = "values passed from a form";
$p2 = "values passed from a form";
$p3 = "values passed from a form";
$params = array(
array(&$p1, null, null, SQLSRV_SQLTYPE_VARCHAR(50)),
array(&$p2, null, null, SQLSRV_SQLTYPE_DATETIME),
array(&$p3, null, null, SQLSRV_SQLTYPE_VARCHAR(50))
);
$sql = "INSERT INTO database_name (column1, column2, column3) values (?,?,?)";
$stmt = sqlsrv_prepare($conn, $sql, $params);
if( !$stmt ) { die( print_r( sqlsrv_errors(), true)); }
if(sqlsrv_execute( $stmt ) === false ) { die( print_r( sqlsrv_errors(), true)); }
?>
For more SQLSRV params, visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc626305.aspx