Microsoft SQL Server 2005 overview

SQL Server Data Platform

SQL Server is a comprehensive, integrated, end-to-end data solution that provides users in the enterprise with a secure, reliable, and efficient platform for enterprise data management and business intelligence applications. SQL Server 2005 brings powerful, familiar tools for IT professionals and information workers, while reducing the complexity of creating, deploying, managing, and using enterprise data and analytics applications on multiple platforms from mobile devices to enterprise data systems. With a comprehensive set of features, integration with existing systems, and automated management of day-to-day tasks, SQL Server 2005 provides a complete data solution for organizations of different sizes. Figure 1 shows the composition architecture of the SQL Server 2005 data platform.

Figure 1:sql Server 2005 Data Platform

The SQL Server data platform includes the following tools:

Relational databases: A secure, reliable, scalable, highly available relational database engine that improves performance and supports structured and unstructured (XML) data.

Replication services: Data replication can be used for data distribution, processing of mobile data applications, system high availability, backup data scalable storage for enterprise reporting solutions, integration with heterogeneous systems, etc., including existing Oracle databases.

Notification Service: Advanced Notification Services for development and deployment of scalable applications can release personalized, timely information updates to different connections and mobile devices.

Integration Services: Enables the extraction, transformation, and loading capabilities of data warehousing and enterprise-wide data integration.

Analysis Services: Online analytical Processing (OLAP) features can be used for rapid advanced analysis of large, complex datasets in multidimensional storage.

Report Services: A comprehensive report solution that creates, manages, and publishes traditional, printable reports, and interactive, web-based reports.

Administrative tools: SQL Server contains integrated management tools that can be used for advanced database management and tuning and are tightly integrated with other Microsoft tools, such as Mom and SMS. The standard data access protocol greatly reduces the time spent in data integration between SQL Server and existing systems. In addition, embedded Web service support built into SQL Server ensures interoperability with other applications and platforms.

Development tools: SQL Server provides a development tool that integrates with Microsoft Visual studio® for database engine, data extraction, transformation and load (ETL), data mining, OLAP, and reporting to achieve END-TO-END application development capabilities. Each of the major subsystems in SQL Server has its own object model and APIs that can be extended in any way to a different business environment.

The SQL Server 2005 data platform provides the following benefits for organizations of different sizes:

Leverage data assets: in addition to providing a secure and reliable database for line-of-business and analytics applications, SQL Server 2005 enables users to gain more value from their data by embedding functionality such as reports, analytics, and data mining.

Increased productivity: Through comprehensive business intelligence capabilities, and integration with tools such as familiar Microsoft Office systems, SQL Server 2005 provides information workers in the organization with critical, timely business information to meet their specific needs. The SQL Server 2005 goal is to extend business intelligence to all users within an organization and ultimately allow users at all levels in the organization to make better decisions based on their most valuable asset-data.

Reduce IT complexity: SQL Server 2005 simplifies the complexity of developing, deploying, and managing Line-of-business and analytics applications, providing developers with a flexible development environment and integrated automated management tools for database managers.

Lower total cost of ownership (TCO): Product ease of use and deployment concerns and integrated tools provide the lowest industrial planning, implementation, and maintenance costs, making database investments quickly rewarded.