Hello Dev! In this article, we will be discussing the various versions of SQL Server and their features. As you may know, SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) created by Microsoft. It has undergone several updates and upgrades since its inception in 1989, resulting in a variety of versions. Each version has its unique features and functionalities that cater to different requirements of users. So, let’s dive in and explore the different versions of SQL Server.
SQL Server 2000
SQL Server 2000 was released in 2000, and it was the first version of SQL Server to support XML and HTTP. It introduced several key features such as indexed views, user-defined functions, and Data Transformation Services (DTS). Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2000:
Table Partitioning
Table partitioning is one of the significant improvements of SQL Server 2000. It allowed users to split a large table into smaller, more manageable partitions. This feature provided better performance and faster data access. It also made backing up and restoring a database much faster.
Indexed Views
Indexed Views were introduced in SQL Server 2000. They are essentially pre-computed queries that improve query performance. They are also updatable, which means that changes made to the original table are automatically reflected in the Indexed View.
User-Defined Functions
User-Defined Functions (UDFs) allow users to create their own custom functions. They can be used in SQL queries just like built-in functions. UDFs allow more flexibility in querying and decrease the amount of code needed to perform complex operations.
Data Transformation Services (DTS)
Data Transformation Services (DTS) is a tool used to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from multiple sources into a single database. It allows users to create complex data transformation workflows and automate ETL processes.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2000
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2000 still supported? | No, Microsoft ended support for SQL Server 2000 in 2008. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2000? | Minimum hardware requirements are a 166 MHz processor, 64 MB of RAM, and 500 MB of available hard disk space. |
| What is the maximum number of CPUs supported by SQL Server 2000? | SQL Server 2000 supports up to 8 CPUs. |
| What is the maximum size of a SQL Server 2000 database? | The maximum size of a SQL Server 2000 database is 1 Terabyte (TB). |
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server 2005 was released in 2005, and it was a significant upgrade to SQL Server 2000. It introduced several new features such as Common Language Runtime (CLR) integration, XML data type, and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2005:
Common Language Runtime (CLR) Integration
CLR integration is one of the significant improvements in SQL Server 2005. It allows users to write database code in .NET languages such as C# and Visual Basic.NET. CLR integration also provides additional security and performance benefits.
XML Data Type
SQL Server 2005 introduced a native XML data type, which allows users to store and manipulate XML data efficiently. It supports XML Schema Definition (XSD) validation, XPath queries, and XQuery expressions.
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a graphical user interface tool used to manage SQL Server databases. It allows users to create, modify, and delete database objects, as well as run queries and scripts.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2005
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2005 still supported? | No, Microsoft ended support for SQL Server 2005 in 2016. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2005? | Minimum hardware requirements are a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 675 MB of available hard disk space. |
| What is the maximum number of CPUs supported by SQL Server 2005? | SQL Server 2005 supports up to 64 CPUs. |
| What is the maximum size of a SQL Server 2005 database? | The maximum size of a SQL Server 2005 database is 524 Petabytes (PB). |
SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 was released in 2008, and it featured several improvements over SQL Server 2005. It introduced several new features such as Policy-Based Management, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), and Resource Governor. Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2008:
Policy-Based Management
Policy-Based Management allows users to define policies to manage SQL Server instances, databases, and objects. It helps ensure compliance with organizational policies and standards, and it provides better control over database administration.
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is a feature that allows users to encrypt an entire database, including backups, without modifying the applications that access the database. It helps protect sensitive data from unauthorized access.
Resource Governor
Resource Governor is a feature that allows users to control and manage system resources such as CPU and memory for different workloads. It helps ensure that critical workloads have the necessary resources and that non-critical workloads do not affect the overall performance of the system.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2008
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2008 still supported? | No, Microsoft ended support for SQL Server 2008 in 2019. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2008? | Minimum hardware requirements are a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended), and 1.5 GB of available hard disk space. |
| What is the maximum number of CPUs supported by SQL Server 2008? | SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition supports up to 4 CPUs. SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition supports up to 64 CPUs. |
| What is the maximum size of a SQL Server 2008 database? | The maximum size of a SQL Server 2008 database is 524 Petabytes (PB). |
SQL Server 2012
SQL Server 2012 was released in 2012, and it introduced several new features such as AlwaysOn Availability Groups, Columnstore Indexes, and Power View. It also included improvements to existing features such as SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Transact-SQL (T-SQL). Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2012:
AlwaysOn Availability Groups
AlwaysOn Availability Groups is a high-availability and disaster recovery solution that provides automatic failover of a database to a secondary replica in the event of a primary replica failure. It allows users to configure multiple secondary replicas and perform backups and read-only queries on secondary replicas.
Columnstore Indexes
Columnstore Indexes is a feature that allows users to store and query large data sets efficiently. It organizes data by columns instead of rows, which allows for better compression and faster query performance for analytical workloads.
Power View
Power View is a feature that allows users to create interactive reports and visualizations in SharePoint. It provides an intuitive interface for exploring data and creating charts, tables, and maps.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2012
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2012 still supported? | No, mainstream support for SQL Server 2012 ended in 2017, and extended support will end in 2022. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2012? | Minimum hardware requirements are a 1.4 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended), and 6 GB of available hard disk space. |
| What is the maximum number of CPUs supported by SQL Server 2012? | SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition supports up to 4 CPUs. SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition supports up to 64 CPUs. |
| What is the maximum size of a SQL Server 2012 database? | The maximum size of a SQL Server 2012 database is 524 Petabytes (PB). |
SQL Server 2014
SQL Server 2014 was released in 2014, and it introduced several new features such as In-Memory OLTP, Buffer Pool Extension, and Azure Integration. It also included improvements to existing features such as AlwaysOn Availability Groups and Columnstore Indexes. Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2014:
In-Memory OLTP
In-Memory OLTP is an in-memory database engine that allows users to store and access data much faster than traditional disk-based storage. It is designed for high-performance transaction processing and real-time analytics.
Buffer Pool Extension
Buffer Pool Extension is a feature that allows users to extend the SQL Server buffer pool using solid-state drives (SSDs). It improves query performance by reducing disk I/O and increasing the amount of data that can be cached in memory.
Azure Integration
Azure Integration allows users to backup and restore SQL Server databases to Azure Blob Storage. It also allows users to run SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines and use Azure for disaster recovery and high-availability solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2014
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2014 still supported? | Mainstream support for SQL Server 2014 ended in 2019, and extended support will end in 2024. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2014? | Minimum hardware requirements are a 1.4 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended), and 6 GB of available hard disk space. |
| What is the maximum number of CPUs supported by SQL Server 2014? | SQL Server 2014 Standard Edition supports up to 4 CPUs. SQL Server 2014 Enterprise Edition supports up to 640 CPUs. |
| What is the maximum size of a SQL Server 2014 database? | The maximum size of a SQL Server 2014 database is 524 Petabytes (PB). |
SQL Server 2016
SQL Server 2016 was released in 2016, and it introduced several new features such as Query Store, Temporal Tables, and JSON Support. It also included improvements to existing features such as In-Memory OLTP and AlwaysOn Availability Groups. Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2016:
Query Store
Query Store is a feature that allows users to store and manage query plans and performance data. It provides a historical view of query performance, which can help identify performance issues and optimize query performance.
Temporal Tables
Temporal Tables is a feature that allows users to track changes to database records over time. It provides a way to view data as it was at a specific point in time, which can be useful for auditing and compliance purposes.
JSON Support
JSON Support is a feature that allows users to store and query JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data in SQL Server. It provides a flexible and efficient way to store and retrieve structured and unstructured data.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2016
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2016 still supported? | Mainstream support for SQL Server 2016 ended in 2021, and extended support will end in 2026. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2016? | Minimum hardware requirements are a 1.4 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended), and 6 GB of available hard disk space. |
| What is the maximum number of CPUs supported by SQL Server 2016? | SQL Server 2016 Standard Edition supports up to 24 CPUs. SQL Server 2016 Enterprise Edition supports up to 640 CPUs. |
| What is the maximum size of a SQL Server 2016 database? | The maximum size of a SQL Server 2016 database is 524 Petabytes (PB). |
SQL Server 2017
SQL Server 2017 was released in 2017, and it introduced several new features such as Graph Processing, Machine Learning Services, and Adaptive Query Processing. It also included improvements to existing features such as AlwaysOn Availability Groups and Temporal Tables. Here are some of the primary features of SQL Server 2017:
Graph Processing
Graph Processing is a feature that allows users to model and analyze complex relationships between entities in data. It provides a way to visualize data in a graph format and perform graph-based queries and analytics.
Machine Learning Services
Machine Learning Services is a feature that allows users to run R and Python scripts directly in the SQL Server database engine. It enables users to perform advanced analytics and data science within the database.
Adaptive Query Processing
Adaptive Query Processing is a feature that automatically adjusts query plans based on the actual execution of the query. It provides better query performance and reduces the need for manual tuning.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL Server 2017
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is SQL Server 2017 still supported? | Mainstream support for SQL Server 2017 ended in 2022, and extended support will end in 2027. It is recommended to upgrade to a newer version. |
| What are the hardware requirements for SQL Server 2017? | Minimum hardware |