What is SQL Server and why do you need it?

An SQL server is a relational database management system developed and marketed by Microsoft.

Like other relational database management software, SQL Server is based on SQL, a standard programming language for interacting with relational databases. SQL Server is tied to Transact-SQL or T-SQL, Microsoft's implementation of SQL, which contains a number of its own programming constructs.

It has been operated exclusively in a Windows environment for more than 20 years. In 2016, Microsoft made it available for Linux. SQL Server 2017 was made available to the public in October 2016 and runs on both Windows and Linux. Below we give you a short SQL Server tutorial:

SQL Server architecture

The following diagram illustrates the architecture of SQL Server:

SQL Server consists of two main components:

• Database engine (left side of the diagram)
• SQL operating system (right side of the diagram)

1. database engine

The main component of an SQL server is the database engine. The database engine consists of a relational engine, which processes queries, and a storage engine, which manages the database files, pages, index, etc. Database objects, such as stored procedures, views and triggers, are also created and executed by the database engine.

Relational engine

The relational engine contains the components that determine the best way to execute a query. The relational engine is also called the query processor. It also requests data from the storage engine based on the query entered and processes the results.

Relational engine tasks include query processing, memory management, thread and task management, buffer management and distributed query processing.

Memory Engine

The storage engine is responsible for storing and retrieving data from storage systems such as hard disks and SANs.

2. the SQL operating system

Below the relational engine and the storage engine is the SQL Server Operating System or SQLOS. SQLOS provides many operating system services, such as memory and I/O management. Other services include exception handling and synchronisation services.

SQL Server services and tools

Together with SQL Server, Microsoft offers tools and services for data management and business intelligence (BI). For data management, the SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Data Quality Services and SQL Server Master Data Services are included. For database development, Microsoft offers the SQL Server Data Tools and for database administration, deployment and monitoring the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

For data analysis, Microsoft offers SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) provides reports and data visualisation. The Machine Learning Services technology first appeared in SQL Server 2016, which was renamed R Services.

SQL Server versions

• SQL Server has four main editions that contain different services and tools. Two editions are available free of charge:
• SQL Server Developer Edition for use in database development and testing.
• SQL Server Expression for small databases with up to 10 GB storage capacity.
• For larger and critical applications, there is the Enterprise Edition, which contains all the functions of SQL Server.

The Standard Edition has some of the functionality of the Enterprise Edition and is limited to the server in terms of the number of processor cores and memory that can be configured.

To find and buy all the different versions of SQL Server at the best price on the market, click here. You can also access our SQL Server download if you wish.

For detailed information on SQL editions, see the editions available from Microsoft by clicking here.

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