MSSQL Server
Intro
- What Is SQL Server? - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn
- Hierarchical Data (SQL Server) - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn
Editions
- SQL Server 2025 Preview
- SQL Server 2022
- SQL Server 2019
- SQL Server 2017
- SQL Server 2016
SQL Server / MS SQL / Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft owns SQL Server. Like Oracle DB, the code is also close sourced.
- Large enterprise applications mostly use SQL Server. The key difference between Oracle and SQL Server is that SQL Server only supports the Windows Operating System.
- Microsoft offers a free entry-level version called Express but can become very expensive as you scale your application.
SQL Server components and technologies
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Database Engine | The Database Engine is the core service for storing, processing, and securing data. The Database Engine provides controlled access and transaction processing to meet the requirements of the most demanding data consuming applications within your enterprise. The Database Engine also provides rich support for sustaining business continuity through Business continuity and database recovery. |
| Machine Learning Services (MLS) | SQL Server Machine Learning Services supports integration of machine learning, using the popular R and Python languages, into enterprise workflows. Machine Learning Services (In-Database) integrates R and Python with SQL Server, making it easy to build, retrain, and score models by calling stored procedures. Machine Learning Server provides enterprise-scale support for R and Python, without requiring SQL Server. |
| Integration Services (SSIS) | SQL Server Integration Services is a platform for building high performance data integration solutions, including packages that provide extract, transform, and load (ETL) processing for data warehousing. |
| Analysis Services (SSAS) | SQL Server Analysis Services is an analytical data platform and toolset for personal, team, and corporate business intelligence. Servers and client designers support traditional OLAP solutions, new tabular modeling solutions, as well as self-service analytics and collaboration using Power Pivot, Excel, and a SharePoint Server environment. Analysis Services also includes Data Mining so that you can uncover the patterns and relationships hidden inside large volumes of data. |
| Reporting Services (SSRS) | SQL Server Reporting Services delivers enterprise, Web-enabled reporting functionality. You can create reports that draw content from various data sources, publish reports in various formats, and centrally manage security and subscriptions. |
| Replication | SQL Server Replication is a set of technologies for copying and distributing data and database objects from one database to another, and then synchronizing between databases to maintain consistency. By using replication, you can distribute data to different locations and to remote or mobile users with local and wide area networks, dial-up connections, wireless connections, and the Internet. |
| Data Quality Services (DQS) 1 | Data Quality Services provides you with a knowledge-driven data cleansing solution. DQS enables you to build a knowledge base, and then use that knowledge base to perform data correction and deduplication on your data, using both computer-assisted and interactive means. You can use cloud-based reference data services, and you can build a data management solution that integrates DQS with SQL Server Integration Services and Master Data Services. |
| Master Data Services (MDS) 1 | Master Data Services is the SQL Server solution for master data management. A solution built on Master Data Services helps ensure that reporting and analysis are based on the right information. Using Master Data Services, you create a central repository for your master data and maintain an auditable, securable record of that data as it changes over time. |
1 This feature is removed in SQL Server 2025 (17.x) Preview. We continue to support this feature in SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and earlier versions.
SQL Server Integration Service (SSIS)
SQL Server Integration Services(SSIS) is a component of the Microsoft SQL Server database software that can be used to perform a broad range of data migration tasks.
SSIS is a platform for data integration and workflow applications. It features a data warehousing tool used for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL). The tool may also be used to automate maintenance of SQL Server databases and updates to multidimensional cube data.
First released with Microsoft SQL Server 2005, SSIS replaced Data Transformation Services, which had been a feature of SQL Server since Version 7.0. Unlike DTS, which was included in all versions, SSIS is only available in the "Standard", "Business Intelligence" and "Enterprise" editions.With Microsoft "Visual Studio Dev Essentials" it is now possible to use SSIS with Visual Studio 2017 free of cost so long as it is for development and learning purposes only.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Server_Integration_Services
SQL Server Reporting Service (SSRS)
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) provides a set of on-premises tools and services that create, deploy, and manage mobile and paginated reports.
- https://www.toptal.com/sql/oracle-sql-server-differences
- https://www.toptal.com/sql/oracle-sql-server-migrations-pt-2
- https://www.toptal.com/sql/oracle-sql-server-migrations-pt-3