Database Server

Overview

Sequential Query Language (SQL) Servers are database servers. While there are database servers that do not utilize SQL to perform queries against a database, these are generally proprietary and non-robust implementations. SQL is as ubiquitous to database servers as HTML is to websites. When one begins to look for a database server there are several major options:

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012 – Microsoft has created a long-line of enterprise level, reliable SQL servers. These include there 7.0, 2000, 2005, 2008 versions. The current version is 2012. A lite version that is freely available is called SQL Server Express, the successor to MSDE. SQL Server 2008 R2 is used by many large enterprises as well as small businesses.
  • MySQL – MySQL is a popular free/open source implementation. It has also taken rapid bounds forward and serves as the back-end for numerous large internet companies. It is especially popular amongst adherents to an open source model (e.g. LAMP in which M stands for MySQL).
  • Other options include Oracle and PostgreSQL, but neither of these is nearly as popular as either SQL Server from Microsoft or MySQL.

Backing Up SQL Databases

  • Every database should be backed up regularly, and generally apart from being backed up as a whole system. This is mainly because of the difficulties inherent in backing up software such as SQL databases which are in constant flux. Microsoft offers some built-in tools for backups but these are somewhat simplistic and much better options are available, especially if you have any sizeable amount of data to backup (e.g. a 15 GB or larger database).
  • Three companies that offer advanaced database backup tools for Microsoft SQL Server are Red-Gate, Idera, and Quest. My personal favorite is Red-Gate. Their software is simple, works well, and the price point is significantly lower than their competitors. You can get an entry level Red-Gate SQL Backup Lite application from them for $149.

Further Reading

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services (Stacia Misner).
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Integration Services (Wee-Hyong Tok, et al).
  • Programming Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (Leonard Lobel and Andrew Brust).
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals (Itzik Ben-Gan).
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