CF + Flex 2.0.1 + Server 2003 + (IIS? Apache? My/MS SQL?)

Question

I've been playing with CF/Apache2.2/Flex2.0.1 for a few
months and I finally bit the bullet and bought it all
(CF/Flex/Server 2003)...and F8 and PSCS2...to finish my,
unfortunately one-and-only-serious computer (dual 200-series
Opteron). So, until now, I've used the trials of Flex/CF on what I
thought would be the cat's *** OS (XP64) but it blows (sorry MS:()
so I bought Server 2003. After going through the rigamaroll of
registering for the 180 trial originally, I removed 2003 fairly
quickly. But it seems, according to spec, to be the best choice, 32
bit, for CF.
I've been using a combination of Apache2.2 and MySQL 5 (with
the hotfixes). But now that I have spent my unborn child's RESP
deposit, I want to make sure I'm doing it the right way.
My PLAN is to do the build like this, and I'd really
appreciate any feedback, because over the last few months, I've
found that many things can go wrong.
Server 2003, turn off IIS. Run Apache 2.2. Run CF under that
(Standard edition CF MX7.0.2). And the scary part, never even SEEN,
let alone used, is MS SQL, the free/4Gb limit version.
I don't know if I would be better off to scrap Apache,
because it's been bullet proof for me for years with PHP and MySQL,
and now with CF/MySQL. But what would the best 'occasionally minor
production, mostly non-critical/development' setup be for a Web
Server. I'm not an expert, and I know squat about IIS.
I also would (in ignorance) assume MS SQL is going to run
much better on IIS, and might even not work properly under Apache.
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I've
everything still in the boxes for the worst case (take it back and
get 'this') scenario.
Would I be saving myself some grief if I asked a pro to come
in and do it, for a fee?
It's strictly for my personal development at this stage, but
I'd like to get some jobs, maybe hosting 1-2 semi-serious apps that
in one case at least (for my employer), will need to be secure
(Financial services regulation for a Members-only Site, i.e.,
sensitive financial data entered on a pre-production server at work
for which my system would serve as the development system, most
likely with live data).
My PERSONAL aim is a fully db-driven, fully-Flex/F8 and fully
CF set of sites, along the lines of hosting the pet projects I have
for my photographer friends. I want my galleries to be among the
best on the net, bar none.
Sorry for the very long post, I am just staring at all these
boxes, and am afraid to even open Server 2003 or look into IIS/MS
SQL until I hear from some of you who might have something pithy to
say.
Thanks for baring with me.
Shawn.

Answer 1

>>That data base is fine for a development environment.
Thanks edbrendel.
So, since I am able to run Apache 2.2 as I want to, would I
be better of to use MySQL 5 or MS SQL Express if I want it to be
largely development, but also for my own stuff (my galleries etc.)
actually running pages served to the web?
I know of the technotes, a couple of them (incl. the MySQL
note on installing V. 5 as a datasource and all that), but never
saw that one...so thanks very much. I've manually added the Apache
2.2 file line in httpd.conf and added the file in the config area,
which always worked in the past with XP Pro and XP64...hope it does
with 2003 I had 2003 server when I first started playing, it was a
nightmare, I hope now that I've bought everything I can wrap my
head around it!). I just make sure I don't try to configure CF
until after manually adding the files, and changing the Apache
config file and restarting. Then I go into the administrator for
the first time.
Shawn