Datasheet

Multiple Instances

SQL Server 2005 provides the capability of installing multiple instances of the database application on a

single computer. Depending on the edition of SQL Server being installed, up to 50 instances can be

installed. This feature allows for one high-performance server to host multiple instances of the SQL

Server services, each with its own configuration and databases. Each instance can be managed and con-

trolled separately with no dependency on each other.

Database Mail

In the past SQL Server relied on a Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) mail client

configured on the server to facilitate email and pager notification for administrative and programmatic

purposes. What this essentially meant was that to fully utilize administrative notifications, the adminis-

trator needed to install Outlook or some other MAPI-compliant client on the server, and then create a

mail profile for the service account to use.

Many organizations wanted to take advantage of the SQL Server Agent’s ability to send job and event

notification via email but were unwilling to install unnecessary and potentially risky software on pro-

duction server assets. The SQL Server 2005 Database Mail feature removes this requirement by support-

ing Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for all mail traffic. In addition, multiple mail profiles can be

created in the database to support different database applications. For more information about Database

Mail, see Chapter 8.

SQL Server 2005 Editions

SQL Server 2005 comes in six different flavors, and each has its specific place in the data management

infrastructure with the probable exception of the Enterprise Evaluation Edition, which is only useful for

short-term evaluation of the product (180 days). At the top of the list is the Enterprise Edition that sup-

ports absolutely everything that SQL Server 2005 has to offer. On the other end of the spectrum is the

Express Edition, which offers very limited (but still exciting) features.

The following table contrasts the major differences between all but the Developer and Evaluation

Editions. As discussed later in this section, the Developer Edition supports the same functionality as the

Enterprise Edition, and the Evaluation Edition is the Enterprise Edition with a time-limited and

restricted license.

Feature Enterprise Edition Standard Edition Workgroup Edition

Failover Clustering Yes 2-node No

Multi-Instance Support 50 16 16

Database Mirroring Yes Limited No

Enhanced Availability Features Yes No No

Table and Index Physical

Partitioning Yes No No

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Introducing SQL Server 2005

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