2 ZC installs in a single web host account

[kobra]

will this allow two separate websites to share the same set of customers ?

No, the shops do not share any information between them

[rdcast]

No, the shops do not share any information between them

Then what would be the benefit of sharing the same database?

[kobra]

Then what would be the benefit of sharing the same database?

I did not suggest that, kuroi did and has some reasoning for it

I believe it is better to have then as seperate databases but some hosts charge for additional databases in which case prefixed tables can be used

[rdcast]

I see, but thank goodness I have an awesome host service. My gold account gives me everything with great help at a phenomenal price. Pair that with ZC and wow!!!

[janissaire]

I would make it a pratice of 1 Zencart = 1 Database (but that's just me)

1 hack = only one data base potentailly compromised instead of all of them.

It's a little more maintenance but worth it - that way you can also monitor one vs. the other - i.e. If something is happening with A but not B you can then also compare the two to see what's going on.

[gjh42]

I think the prefixes are largely a relic of years past when having multiple databases for a simple hosting account may not have been common. These days, hosting that allows multiple dbs is probably the rule rather than the exception.

[kuroi]

I think the prefixes are largely a relic of years past ...

We use them frequently when building more complex sites, e.g. where multiple Zen Carts will share information such as customers, products or stock, or where Zen Cart is one component of the site and where other apps (e.g. WordPress or Drupal) may share information with it.

[gjh42]

Yes, I could see where that kind of situation would make prefixes in one overall db desirable. They are probably seldom needed because of host limitations any more.

[willie bee]

I would make it a pratice of 1 Zencart = 1 Database (but that's just me)

1 hack = only one data base potentailly compromised instead of all of them.

It's a little more maintenance but worth it - that way you can also monitor one vs. the other - i.e. If something is happening with A but not B you can then also compare the two to see what's going on.

Good call and also if you decide you do not want to deal with SITE A anymore and just keep SITE B. Sounds like the OP is asking for more trouble in the END just so he/she can deal with ONE database.

[janissaire]

maybe for extra protection they should be on different servers too.

i.e.

disc 1 Zencart 1
disc 2 Zencart 2

etc