Can i run multiple instances of DNN on one Server more specifically?

I haven't installed DNN yet, newbee, but would like to know if i can install multiple sites on the one server running IIS6 on W2K3?

are there instructions anywhere for this, i've been looking but haven't seen any yet.

Multiple instances and multiple sites are two different things.  You can run multiple sites in a single instance using child or parent portals.  Or you set up a separate web site with a separate installation of DNN.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Jeff

The short answer is "Yes".  But there are a couple of scenarios here...

1. DNN is constructed in such a way that two separate installations can share a SQL DB but NOT the tables... each would have its own set of tables which are identified with an "Object Qualifier" (eg. onePortals, twoPortals, where ObjectQualifier = "one" or "two").  The core and MOST commercial modules handle this scenario although not everyone tests the ObjectQualifier behavior as well as they should.

2. The second scenario is actually more reminiscent of a web farm setup... two instances pointing at the same database.  You can segment which head answers to which site, it's not necessary to actually balance them.  But there are architecture and operations considerations in this model which require consideration.

DNN is very flexible and can accommodate many use cases.  But you have to figure out the most appropriate use case for your situation first.

Cheers,
Scott

Scott Willhite, Co-Founder DNN