Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system [RDBMS] produced by Microsoft. Its primary query language is Transact-SQL, an implementation of the ANSI/ISO standard Structured Query Language (SQL) used by both Microsoft and Sybase.

SQL Server includes support for database mirroring and clustering, failover, partitioning and snapshots.

Mirroring

Database mirroring, introduced in SQL Server 2005, allows creation of mirrors (or replicas) of database contents, along with transaction logs, on another instance of SQL Server, based on certain predefined triggers.

Cluster

A SQL server cluster is a collection of identically configured servers, which help distribute the workload among multiple servers. All the servers share an identical virtual server name, and it is resolved into the IP address of any of the identically configured machines by the clustering runtime.

Failover

Automatic failover clustering is also available, in which the workload of a server is transferred to another system in the event of a system failure.

Data Partitioning

SQL server also supports data partitioning for distributed databases.

Snapshots

SQL Server 2005 also allows creation of snapshots, which are like backup images that can be reverted back to when needed.

Replication

SQL Server supports three different data replication scenarios:

1. Snapshot replication: Snapshots of a database are pushed out to all replication subscribers of a server.
2. Transaction replication: Changes to the database are continually published out to clients.
3. Merge replication: Synchronizing the database with other servers participating in the replication. Changes to all databases happen independently and during replication, the changes are synchronized among all databases. Merge replication includes in-built support for conflict resolution.

SQL Server 2005

SQL Server 2005 supports .NET Framework. In .NET, stored procedures are written in any .NET language, using the entire set of libraries available to the .NET Framework, as well the Common Type System. Unlike other processes, .NET Framework hosted in SQL Server 2005 utilizes memory and thread management capabilities provided by SQL Server, rather than using built in capabilities of Windows. This gives better performance.

Also See SQL Server 2008

Application Development

Applications are developed using software development tools to access the data stored by Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 now includes the common language runtime [CLR] component for Microsoft .NET. Applications developed with .NET languages such as VB.NET or C# can implement stored procedures and other functions. Older versions of Microsoft development tools typically use APIs to access Microsoft SQL Server functionality.

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