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Since MOSS is more advanced than WSS, it also needs more types of databases to perform its tasks. Two of these types are the same as in a WSS environment, and the others are exclusive to MOSS installations.

When installing MOSS using the Basic mode, each database name will have a suffix based on a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) string, which is a 32-character-long string.

If you install MOSS using the Advanced mode, you will be able to set these names manually:

• Configuration database: (Used by WSS and MOSS.) Contains SharePoint configuration settings, such as front-end and back-end servers, mail servers, and portal site names. The name for this database is SharePoint_Config.
• Content database: (Used by WSS and MOSS.) Contains the actual data, stored in the portal site and the team sites. Default name prefix: WSS_Content.
• Shared Services database: (Used by MOSS.) Used to store information about the Shared Service provided; its default name is SharedServices1_DB.
• Shared Services Search database: (Used by MOSS.) Stores search index and related content in the database SharedServices1Search_DB.
• Shared Services Content: (Used by MOSS.) Stores general information for the Shared Services Provider instances in the database SharedServices_Content.
• Administrative Content: (Used by MOSS.) Stores content related to central administration in the database file SharePoint_AdminContent.

You may create a new content database when needed, but the other types must exist in one copy only.

Besides these databases, you may create one more, when installing the Single Sign-On function in MOSS. That database will be named by the administrator (for example, SSO for single sign-on).