Datasheet

Chapter 1
12
Use ANSI compliance not as a religion but, rather, where it makes sense. Go for ANSI code where it
means little or no difference in performance (such as with queries), but also don't be afraid to make
judicious use of specialized features that may offer some functionality or performance gain that
ANSI can't give you. Just document these areas where you use them so that, if you are faced with
porting to a new RDBMS, you know where to look for code that may not run on the new system.
Microsoft SQL Server (referred to in this book as simply SQL Server) was originally born from Sybase
SQL Server (referred to in this book simply as Sybase). Microsoft partnered with Sybase in 1989 to
develop a version of SQL Server for, of all things, OS/2. SQL Server was migrated to Windows NT
back in 1993 with version 4.2. The relationship ended with the release of version 6.0. From 6.5 forward,
SQL Server has been a Microsoft-only product. The highly successful version 7.0 was essentially a
complete rewrite of the product and was the first version available for Windows 9x (there was now
virtually no Sybase code left in SQL Server). Finally, we reach today's version – SQL Server 2000.
While there are unmistakable similarities, there are now substantial differences in implementation and
feature support between version 4.21 (the oldest version you're actually likely to find installed
somewhere) and version 2000. Version 6.0 added such details as cursor support. Version 6.5 added
distributed transactions, replication, and ANSI compatibility. The rewrite with version 7.0 enabled the
loss of problem areas such as the devices defined for data storage.
About SQL Server 2000
SQL Server 2000 comes with far more than just the usual RDBMS – it has additional components that
would, for many products, be sold entirely separately or with add-on pricing. Instead, Microsoft has
seen fit to toss in these extras at no additional charge.
SQL Server 2000 is now available in five editions (CE, Personal, Desktop Engine, Standard, Developer,
and Enterprise), which are discussed in more detail later.
There is also an Enterprise Evaluation Edition, which can be downloaded from the Web for a 120
day trial period.
The full suite that makes up SQL Server 2000 includes:
System/Subsystem Description Editions
SQL Server 2000
(the main RDBMS)
This is the "guts" of the system, and is required for anything
else to work.
It is a very robust relational database system.
With the exception of the Desktop Engine, which only has
the main RDBMS, you will find that this part of the system
also includes several different services and utilities, such as
the SQL Server Agent (Scheduler), the Distributed
Transaction Coordinator (DTC), the SQL Server Profiler
(trouble-shooting), and the Enterprise Manager (EM) – one
of the best built-in management tools in the business,
regardless of price-range.
If you're coming from the Access world or some other
desktop database, strap on your seatbelt, because you have
just seen a glimpse of what's possible.
Desktop
Engine
Personal
Standard
Developer
Enterprise