SQL Server Hosting

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system. It supports Structured Query Language (SQL), which is the most common database language in use today. While it is most popular for use with small to medium sized databases, it has been catching on for use with large enterprise databases in recent years. If you’re looking to expand your use of Microsoft SQL Server, look no further; you’ll find the articles you need right here.

One of the biggest strengths of SQL Server is its powerful support for the definition of logic inside the database through stored procedures, user-functions, and triggers. This allows developers to create well-recognised and adaptable interfaces from their business logic layers to the database.

There are many types of databases made by different companies and organizations that have their own specific purposes and are targeted at different markets. Two of the major database platforms available are MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server, both of which have different roots and were developed with different audiences in mind.

MySQL: MySQL is an open source project that has been around for quite a while. Though MySQL is cross-platform compatible (meaning it can run on both Windows and Linux operating systems), it seems that MySQL is generally used on a Linux platform such as Red Hat Linux or CentOS. MySQL started as a relatively small software project, but has now matured from what some would consider a “hobby project” to a top of the line, enterprise level and commercially supported database platform.

SQL Server: SQL Server is the database platform that has been developed and distributed by Microsoft. Some would consider SQL Server a more “mature” platform since it has also been around quite a while, has had a lot of money invested in it, and is backed by a gigantic company. Microsoft has made a huge bet on SQL Server (a lot of Microsoft’s products depend on SQL Server to function, some Microsoft products have almost been built around SQL Server, and many Microsoft customers depend on SQL Server) and has continued to actively develop it since its inception.

SQL Server 2005 Express

The good news is that there's no need to wait until 2005 to experience this next edition of SQL Server. SQL Server 2005 Express Beta 2 is free to download, evaluate, and test. It's a great product that comes packed with almost all of the powerful features of its more powerful peer, the full SQL Server 2005, aptly codenamed "Yukon." The most notable difference between the two is that SQL Server 2005 Express does not ship with a GUI management tool. Though this can make the product hard to administer and test, XM (SQL Server Express Manager) is due out before the year's end to fill this developmental gap.