Basic Information About SQL Server Versions 2005 to 2014

Nowadays,it’s true to say that Information Technology has changed the world so far and related technologies have given their best contribution in the respective field. In the same way, SQL Server is one among them; used by organizations to maintain their largesized databases in a regular, safe and specified way. Microsoft SQL Server is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It is an application to create and store data as requested by other application software’s like SSMS. It uses two query languages, i.e. T-SQL and ANSI SQL. It also uses DML (Data Manipulation Language) and DDL (Data Definition Languages) languages.

SQL Server holds its database in Primary and Secondary databases. For Primary database, an MDF file is created while, for Secondary database; an NDF file is created to store its data. An LDF file is one that holds transaction log entries.

Followed are the SQL Server versions that came into the market till date; 2000, 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012 and 2014. At the very beginning, SQL Server version 2000 had added several performance measures like SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services), reporting server, data mining server and messaging related technologies.You can find a brief introduction and description of all the SQL Server versions currently available.

SQL Server 2005:

This version was released on October 2005. It supports XML data types. CLR (Common Language Runtime) was introduced through this version of SQL Server. It allows databases to be exposed to the web services by using TDS. The code for this version of SQL is managed by, CLR. In this version, T-SQL was added to the error handling features and support for recursive queries. This Server version was introduced with better error recovery systems, indexing algorithms, syntax and optimistic concurrency added, for better performance. It uses a method, namely; “MARS (Multiple Access Result Sets)” for database connection to be established with multiple users. It also introduced DMVs (Dynamic Management Views) for monitoring the Server instance; problems and performance.

SQL Server 2008:

This version was released on August 6,2008 introducing a technology like AlwaysOn. This version of SQL Server,particularly focused on data management performance. Support for structured and semi-structured data, including digital media formats like; audio, video, etc. was provided in this version of SQL. These multimedia data files were stored as BLOBs (Binary Large Objects). It supported all data types like; XML, emails, documents, files and performed searches, analysis, sharing and synchronization. It came with better compression features which helped in improving scalability. It has enhanced indexing algorithms, capabilities for providing transparent data encryption, and compression of backups too. It also supports facilities like; Windows PowerShell and Cmdlets.

SQL Server 2008 R2:

This version was released on April 21, 2010. It added Master Data Services to SQL Server. It was made possible to manage multiple SQL Server 2008 instances by using this version that also provided services like; relational databases, analysis services, reporting services, and integration services. It came with two different service pack versions; 1 and 2.

SQL Server 2012:

This version of SQL Server was released on March 06, 2012. It also came with two service packs 1 and 2 like the previous version. It offers support for OLE DB, AlwaysOn SQL Server Failover Cluster Instances, and Availability Groups. It introduced some new features like the new DMVs and functions, new programmability, Meta data discovery, THROW statements, performance enhancement, security enhancement,schema assignments, etc.

SQL Server 2014:

This version was released on the 1st of April, 2014. It provides in-memory capabilities for tables that can fully fit in the memory. It provides SSD Buffer Pool extension for disk based SQL Server applications that help improve performance between DRAM and spinning media. It also enhances AlwaysOn property and new hybrid disaster recovery along with backup solutions.

Conclusion

With the growing dependency ratio of enterprises on SQL Server; the gradual release of new versions was observed on a quite frequent note in the recent past. The release of SQL Server version 2014 is the latest in time and also the finest till date; offering enhanced properties and option. Technology has always taken aback users by rapidly increasing in terms of advancement and adaptability, and the same applies to SQL Server version updates witnessed till present.