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What is Microsoft SQL Server?
James - 24/3/09 at 03:06 PM

I'm applying for a job.

One of the 'Highly Desirables' is:
Microsoft SQL Server


Now, in 9 years of IT and network support I've heard this talked about a lot. But I've never actually really understood what it is!

Guess it'd be good to know now!

Anyone got any info?

Cheers,
James

James - 24/3/09 at 03:07 PM

Got this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SQL_Server

cd.thomson - 24/3/09 at 03:10 PM

have you ever worked with php/sql/perl or anything else serverside james?

tegwin - 24/3/09 at 03:20 PM

Basically its a stupidly microsoft product for stororing data....LOL!

If you have done any Mysql stuff then the syntax is vaguly the same for interogating an MSSQL database....

You can learn the basics quickly....(enough to blag the interview)..

Learning the complex workings of databases is not fun!

fov - 24/3/09 at 03:31 PM

Its a very powerful, very complex and very expensive database software.
Id say some heavy duty swatting up is needed to blag your way through

MikeR - 24/3/09 at 03:38 PM

Its also very free - the price depends on what you want to do with it. We supply it with our software and use the free version. Its easily good enough for what we do on PC's.

Its also the bane of my life as i don't understand it enough so its a black hole for me

Colnago_Man - 24/3/09 at 03:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by fov
Its a very powerful, very complex and very expensive database software.
Id say some heavy duty swatting up is needed to blag your way through


Powerfull? Certainly not, fine if your storing records for a local library....

Its free upto 2gb of storage then you either pay per user or CPU. £33K for a single CPU machine.....

fov - 24/3/09 at 04:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Colnago_Man
quote:
Originally posted by fov
Its a very powerful, very complex and very expensive database software.
Id say some heavy duty swatting up is needed to blag your way through


Powerfull? Certainly not, fine if your storing records for a local library....

Its free upto 2gb of storage then you either pay per user or CPU. £33K for a single CPU machine.....

In what way is it not powerful?

And what is 33k? 2k8 Ent is 21k per proc (or heck of a lot less if you get charity licenses )

Pdlewis - 24/3/09 at 05:27 PM

Its a hugly powerfual Database engine I am a SQL Server specialist it is used to run small desktop applications upto the full online ordering system for Tesco and the transaction/cash machine systems for banks such as nationwide so it is a very very powerful tool which is alot cheaper than is more historic competition such as DB2 and Oracle

To work with it You should really know T-SQL language as a minium and SSIS and SSRS is the next level followed by SSAS which is the online analytics offering