Databases assist the business to access data quickly. In turn, you get more done in less time and further help your business run rapidly and efficiently. When it comes to business, keeping up with databases is complex. On a holistic level database is very difficult to comprehend. Whether it is to maintain, program, deploy, or, even manage the database.
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Microsoft SQL server or more commonly known as MS SQL server is a relational database server developed by Microsoft Corporation. A database server is basically a database application that is used to store data and other software applications retrieve and store data using some language which is called SQL (Structured Query Language) in the case of MS SQL server.
The main interface tool for the MS SQL Server is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) which supports a 64-bit and 32-bit operating environment. The MS Server endorses ANSI SQL. The ANSI SQL is the standard Structured Query Language or SQL. Although the MS SQL Server has its own application of the SQL language, that is Transact-SQL or T-SQL.Microsoft’s propriety language, T-SQL, further renders the capabilities of representing a stored procedure, exception handling, variables, etc.
The client application which accesses data from the database server can be on the same machine or on a different machine and can access the data via a set of protocols and the internet. Microsoft has developed a wide variety of MS SQL server editions keeping in view the type of audience that uses database server products. MS SQL Server editions are available for large enterprises, medium-scale organizations to individuals.
The MS SQL Server history commenced with the very first product; SQL Server 1.0. It was a 16-bit wide server for the operating environment of OS/2 in 1989. The Microsoft SQL Server History extends to the present day.
In the year 1987, Microsoft joined hands with Sybase Solutions in order to develop a database management system that could compete with the then-existing giants like IBM and Oracle.
It was decided that Sybase will have all the selling rights and profit earned from the product version designed for the Non-Microsoft platform while Microsoft will have exclusive rights to the database product designed for Microsoft Platforms.
Hence the first database server product was released around 1989. Later on, Sybase sold all the rights to Microsoft and now the product name was changed to MS SQL Server. Till now, around 15 versions of this product have been released.
From these 15 here are the versions that are still supported and can be utilized by you:
| Version | Year | Release Name | Codename |
| 1.0 (OS/2) |
1989 | SQL Server 1.0 (16 bit) |
– |
| 1.1 (OS/2) |
1991 | SQL Server 1.1 (16 bit) |
– |
| 4.21 (WinNT) |
1993 | SQL Server 4.21 | SQLNT |
| 6.0 | 1995 | SQL Server 6.0 | SQL95 |
| 6.5 | 1996 | SQL Server 6.5 | Hydra |
| 7.0 | 1998 | SQL Server 7.0 | Sphinx |
| – | 1999 | SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Tools |
Palato mania |
| 8.0 | 2000 | SQL Server 2000 | Shiloh |
| 8.0 | 2003 | SQL Server 2000 64-bit Edition |
Liberty |
| 9.0 | 2005 | SQL Server 2005 | Yukon |
| 10.0 | 2008 | SQL Server 2008 | Katmai |
| 10.25 | 2010 | SQL Azure DB | CloudDatabase |
| 10.5 | 2010 | SQL Server 2008 R2 | Kilimanjaro (aka KJ) |
| 11.0 | 2012 | SQL Server 2012 | Denali |
| 12.0 | 2014 | SQL Server 2014 |
The MS SQL Server benefits elucidate the fundamentals of what it offers. Reading ahead will give you a clearer picture, and you will get to know all about MS SQL Server and its features. Like other Microsoft products, MS SQL Server benefits average users.
All the Microsoft products are easy to install with the one-click installation procedure and readable GUI with lots of instructions for the layman. MS SQL Server contains all these characteristics and it was an extremely user-friendly installation interface, unlike other database servers that require extensive command-line configurations.
Principally to download MS SQL Server, you require a net framework, a minimum of 1GB of memory, and an NTFS system.
MS SQL server contains excellent compression and encryption capabilities that result in improved data storage and retrieval functions.
MS SQL server is considered one of the most secure database servers with complex encryption algorithms making it virtually impossible to crack the security layers enforced by the user. MS SQL server is not an open-source database server which reduces the risk of attacks on the database server.
A good thing about the MS SQL server is that it is available in multiple editions in order to cater to the needs of huge corporate sector organizations to domestic users. The price range also varies which allows anyone to buy the product which meets their price range. It mainly includes:
Enterprise is for a large-scale organization. It provides complex data requirements, Web-enabled databases, and data warehousing. The license is the highest in the price range as it offers all the features of SQL Server.
The Enterprise version of the MS SQL Server costs $13,748. It is composed of 2 core pack, which are hosting and volume licensing. Some of the features it offers include the following;
Standard is designed for small-scale or medium-sized enterprises. It assists in e-commerce and data warehousing.
There is a huge cost difference between the enterprise and the standard versions of the MS SQL Server. The Standard CAL version starts at $209. Other versions are the Standard – server, and Standard – per core, which cost $899 and $3,586, respectively. Like the Enterprise version, the Standard also has 2 core pack. Its features are similar to what is obtained with the Enterprise version.
Workgroup targets small-scale enterprises. There are no user limits. It can be used as the backend database for branch offices or small Web servers.
Express is free for distribution. It has less number of features. There are limited users and database sizes.
As a free MS SQL Server service, the Express version offers fewer flexibilities to a user. In general, this version is ideal for production and development on small server apps, the web, and desktops.
The developer edition includes all the functionalities of the Enterprise edition. However, the license is used for development and test system, unlike Enterprise, which is for the production server. You can build and test applications in this edition because developers can make an application on top of the SQL Server. In general, the Microsoft SQL Server Developer version allows developers to use this version for practice and to see if it fits their project. As such, this is the reason a user has access to all the features available in the Enterprise edition.
There is another version of the MS SQL Server, which is the Web Version. However, you can only access this service via a hosting service. Therefore, you may get the cost of the version from respective hosting partners.
MS SQL server is fully aware of the importance of your data. Hence MS SQL Server contains many sophisticated features that allow you to recover and restore the data which has been lost or damaged. Although you cannot recover individual records it is possible to restore a complete database using some advanced recovery tools contained in the MS SQL Server database.
The most challenging aspect of perfecting when getting a SQL project into production is development and troubleshooting. MS SQL Server provides tools that will help you save time and effort. These tools include SQL Server Profiler, SQL Server Management Studio, Database Tuning Advisor, and BI tools.
The MS SQL controls data storage through its core component, which is, SQL Server Database Engine. Security, processing, and storage of data come under the server. The Database Engine can execute demands and queries. It can manage transactions, indexes, files, etc. The SQL Server is commonly used by large organizations, it can be supported on a humble laptop.
You are provided with an environment through which you can manage and create databases efficiently. Your business intelligence platform is backed by many components and services that help you in analyzing your data. And further, develop reports. Organizations of all sizes can utilize the services provided by MS SQL Server. It is a powerful system that supports thousands of users.
For those thinking about why use SQL server, this server type has multiple uses. Its primary use is to allow for communication with relational databases via the SQL programming language. This broader usage can be broken down into smaller uses that include the following.
With the MS SQL Server, you can query databases in multiple ways. In general, it uses English-based statements. In addition, it is used for data processing and back-end storage solutions. Several top platforms use MS SQL Server, which include Microsoft, Accenture, Hepsiburada, and Alibaba Travels. Likewise, it works well with music playing and streaming applications, and mobile banking apps.
Furthermore, any company that uses a relational database may want to use MS SQL Server query. However, the speed and efficiency of the queries between different platforms will vary. The presents of varying extensions are the main reason for the difference in speed. In any case, the MS SQL Server is able to perform actions, which include ETL (create, read, update, and delete).
Other uses of MS SQL Server include the following.
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