SQL Server
Microsoft has worked hard over recent years to constantly improve its database engine to a world-class level, and the latest version (SQL Server 2008) has built on the impressive success of SQL Server 2005.
The SQL Server platform includes the following tools:
- Relational Database. A secure, reliable, scalable, highly available relational database engine with improved performance and support for structured and unstructured (XML) data.
- Replication Services. Data replication for distributed or mobile data processing applications, high systems availability, scalable concurrency with secondary data stores for enterprise reporting solutions, and integration with heterogeneous systems, including existing Oracle databases.
- Notification Services. Advanced notification capabilities for the development and deployment of scalable applications that can deliver personalized, timely information updates to a variety of connected and mobile devices.
- Analysis Services. Online analytical processing (OLAP) capabilities for the rapid and sophisticated analysis of large and complex datasets using multidimensional storage.
- Reporting Services. A comprehensive solution for creating, managing, and delivering both traditional, paper-oriented reports and interactive, Web-based reports.
- Management Tools. SQL Server includes integrated management tools for advanced database management and tuning as well as tight integration with tools such as Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) and Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). Standard data access protocols drastically reduce the time it takes to integrate data in SQL Server with existing systems. In addition, native Web service support is built into SQL Server to ensure interoperability with other applications and platforms.
Further information is available from the Microsoft website.
