TechInitiative

Why Sql Server ??

Sql Server, Microsoft's Relational Database Management System, is a powerful database that has truly been placed as an Enterprise solution for all database needs.

In keeping in touch with the demands that the web & application development so desire, Sql Server 2005 has provided numerous additions over its predecessor, Sql Server 2000; however, we will keep this concept more generalized.

Sql Server offers a variety of tools / functionality to house your database, whether small or large. Sql Server is commonly available in shared hosting environments, at a truly affordable price, and to address Microsoft Access briefly, do not use it. That is all I will say about Access.

Sql Server leverages a truly sophisticated method for gathering and storing data to optimize all requests for data. Sql Server employs the Query Optimizer to do all of the work. Even a simple SQL statement such as:

SELECT * FROM dbo.Northwind

has a checklist of items to complete in order to retrieve the data as quickly as possible.

Stored Procedures

Stored Procedures are simply amazing. By having your SQL statments stored in a Stored Procedure, the Query Optimizer, when forming an execution plan to get the requested data, has the capability to re-use a pre-built execution plan, thus getting to your data even faster.

Keep in mind, SQL Server is only as good as you make it. Bad SQL can cause full table scans when searching for data, and if you are unfamiliar with full table scans, imagine that you are looking for a specific piece of data, but you have to throw ALL of the data into the pile before finding this data. Full Table scans pull all content referenced when searching, and simply drain your SQL Server when executing. Database Optimizations and smart Transact-Sql will avoid full table scans.

SQL Server is a very involved process, if you do not believe me, try taking a practice SQL Server 2000 DB & Implementation test from Microsoft. Studying for this exam will be your best crash course as you will learn more than you could imagine. This is coming from experience.

- Brent Helms
Microsoft Certified Professional
(Sql Server DB & Implementation Exam)