Here is the question -

I am with a repossession company that is looking to extend the contact we have with our clients nationwide.  I was referred to DNN to see if it is the application I need for our company.  What we are wanting to do is to take our existing database and transfer the data into a web enabled database that offers varying levels of user control (some users can see certain information some cannot) that can be controlled very carefully.  We also need for the database to be able to store and display PDF scans of paper documents that we receive for the files, as well as store and display pictures of the reclaimed vehicles.  Would DNN support a structured database?  Would it be able to handle PDF files and pictures (As many as 50 PDF's for each record and 20 pics per record?  What kind of hardware would we need to support DNN if that is the solution for us?

And here is how I thought about how I would approach it.


Do you have document manage application with it's own SQL db that manages parts of this process?

I worked with a client where we had to build out 4 intranets - identical, using DNN - it worked out well, but they had thousands of documents that needed to be accessed through their document server and we had some issues where the method of linking through the network would not output the pages correctly. I'm not a coder, nor an active directories so cannot elaborate, all I know is we had to use other solutions since it wasn't possible to do exactly what they needed.

There are different ways DNN stores data, and when you mention 'the database' are you talking about documentation beings stored within the database for security, or are you talking about the links to the PDF's being stored in there, and what about file generation - you don't want to be manually adding these links so it has to be something programmatic, which will integrate with the volume of files you will be working with - and of course the nature of your business requires you to have to have long records of information for legal purposes I'm sure.

I don't think there is an off the shelf solution - but in most business instances, there isn't -but what you can do is explore some of the pre developed products, see if their source code is available and then see how it can be developed further for your requirements or get a properly specked document and get the project quoted from start to finish.

What you are wanting to achieve from my own perspective and relationship with many clients who work with DNN, is completely feasible in DNN - in fact, there really hasn't been much I've seen that DNN can't do - but of course we have this ... what price and how long ... question that comes after it.

I know there products that handle document storage very well. That's their role, but I don't think they display images as well, but there are also image galleries that display images extremely well, and link to items.. so the key here is most likely to find something that automates the procedure through code and scripts to output information to a page, that is role based.

One thing that has already been pointed out here, and I'd like also confirm - is DotNetNuke has excellent role and membership management. I have that developers have incorporated this application in part of the development solutions with excellent results, mainly because they were .NET developers and also understood the value of what the dnn framework is about and how it offers an excellent base with thousands of hours of code, already in a solution ready to be further developed.

The hardware will vary depending upon your ultimate decision - I have several servers and host and manage DNN clients (but only a managed service - not like the normal dnn hosting available) and we're currently looking at specking out our next server - a Quad G Xeon 3box with 16gb of ram - but that will serve many clients, in lightning speed of course..and we're running dual xeons atm.

In most instances, if you're just running one site, on a box, you can use SQL and web together, but anything that requires alot of downloads, I'm inclined to think that splitting the web boxes up is really the way to go.  Serious business needs some serious investment in hardware to perform at any level, dnn or not, so a web box and an SQL box or perhaps a web box, data storage on another might be another option but it's something that perhaps a IT person who's seen your file sizes and site traffic would be best to advise on. More information on the exact requirements in this area would be needed to give an adequate answer on.

One thing that DNN has evolved into is a place where talented developer put out some very cool modules, I have a list of 'my must have modules' on my own sites, but I know, if you're working in different areas, you tend to move towards different styles of modules for your solutions.  I know there are third party modules that allow you connect to totally different SQL databases, output data into a site and have a site populated with information from other places - my thought here was that you already have a db - so extending your offerings to your customers may be helped along by using other third party solutions and have them embedded into your site.

I've also seen amazing things done with ListX - they require some experienced developers but it's an amazing product and combine that with some of the telerik controls and you've got a dynamic site. I am extremely impressed with what can be done with developers who know dnn and who know how to manipulate third party products where there has already been extensive development which gives you a much more viable 'cost of ownership'.

I hope this gives you more insight to what you want to achieve.  Is DNN capable - I think i it is - based on my comments above, but the trick is finding out who is best suited to do the job, and believe me... I've got a list of the ... should's and should not's... backed up by experience, money outlaid, money lost.. so you need to do a bit of homework before entrusting your project with someone.

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My summary to this type of question is -

DotNetNuke on it's own is a great solution - it's a bit bloated on it's own, but can be tweaked and further enhanced for solid performance.
DotNetNuke is an excellent basis on which you can build commercial type solutions when working with skilled developers.
DotNetNuke is able to be scaled to take large amounts of traffic but does require expertise in doing so

I have yet to see a solution that can't be utilised in DNN, but at times the cost outweighs the value of the job and this is often more visible when looking at some php solutions which exist off the shelf and are fantastic, but they lack in many other ways which is why people turn to DNN - and having said that - it has lead me to believe that there some excellent opportunities available for DNN developers in this growing market.  Microsoft has really lifted it's game in providing tools for the developers that are simply not available in any other language.  It's merely an observation, so we're now finding a variety of developers coming to DNN by way of the developer tools.

DotNetNuke is an excellent application to get people started and to grow their business requirements. It's pluggable and scalable technology leaves other apps out in the cold. 

Am I biased - I could be, but I don't code, and I do explore and test other applications, languages and solutions on behalf of clients and keep coming back to DNN because I took the time to learn the application and have seen first hand at how it's able to grow with clients and they love it.

That's all for this moment in time.
Nina