E-Commerce Databases

Implementation of a e-commerce site is a complex task; and I'm not talking about technology!
You can easily call diferent retailers and install Oracle, DB2, or MS-SQL as on-line database motor. Maybe you can select one that easily integrates with your existing site.
But, if you letme tell you something important about it: "THE SELECTION OF THE PRODUCT MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEEDS OF YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY". What does it mean? Yor business must impose you the best solution based on your business strategy.
I recomend you to see the IBM site (www.ibm.com) and look for e-business papers and solutions. It could make the diference in the concept or guidelines you are considerating (it doesn't mean that you have to buy IBM stuff).

Jose P. Mir.-

You can use ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) to connect to your database. The ODBC drivers are available for all the standard databases. You will define the ODBC connection on your web server and use the same connection on your e-commerce web site to represent records from the Database on the web.

Online database is not a different entity - when you enable your database to be accessed from the web, for example using ODBC, you can call it the online database.

You can also use native connection to connect to the database. A native connection or direct connection works faster. In such case you will use the connection string to connect to the database.

Below are the links where you can read about ODBC support from microsoft. You will be able to find both odbc drivers and connection string for the particular database you are using from the web sites of respective databases for example oracle or mySql.

http://www.microsoft.com/data/odbc/default.htm