An in-depth discussion of the storage engine in SQL Server database

This article is a high-level guide to the structure of the storage engine, recommending configuration parameters, the best hardware for SQL Server, and innovative ways to store large amounts of data through files and filegroups. This article also outlines the new dynamic features of the SQL Server 7.0 storage engine.

Overview

Ingenious planning is the basis for implementing a relational database management system (RDBMS). It is the only way to meet the requirements for more storage capacity and to get information faster. To get the most out of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, ask your organization to understand its key components--the storage engine--internal and external.

Introduced

Ten years ago, it was not uncommon for a database application to be developed in months or years. At that time, when building a database, everything was done in advance: the size of the database, the plan, the number of users, and so on. Now, the database application can be developed in a few weeks or months, and the application is already in production as the usage evolves, and before all the problems are understood.

The rapid application of this mission-critical application puts a critical demand on the storage engine, requiring a highly reliable storage engine with a quick-recovery system and automated management tools. Microsoft®sql server™7.0 is a scalable, reliable, and easy-to-use product that will provide a solid backing for the design of applications for the next century.

Goal

The SQL Server 7.0 data engine has several important goals. A clear strategy is to further improve the ease of use, so applications that use database technology can be widely used. Ideally, the database becomes fully transparent to the end-user, and is approximately transparent to the database manager.

Ease of Use

Customers are looking for solutions to business problems. Most database solutions bring multiple cost and complexity issues. SQL Server versions 6.0 and 6.5 define the simplicity of use as a feature of a relational database management system (RDBMS). SQL Server 7.0 brings this concept to the next level, firmly building the product into one of the least complex databases, whether in terms of creating, managing, or referencing commercial applications.