The basics never go out of style. Especially for people new to the game.
If someone brand new to database administration or thinking about it as a possible career switch came to me asking "What is SQL Server" I have a few ideas on what to tell them, with it being overwhelming.
Let's assume they have some help desk experience and know what a "database" is.
- SQL Server is an application from Microsoft that allows you to store your data in one or more separate databases.
- The application runs as a service, so it can start without anyone having to log on or stay logged on. If you go looking for it in Task Manager, its sqlservr.exe (not sqlserver.exe). This is the Database Engine.
- Current versions are 64-bit only and can run on Windows or Linux (since 2017). They install by default into (Windows) C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server
- Each individual database (both system and user) have a minimum of one data file (.mdf) and one log file (.ldf). You can add more of each, but this is an advanced topic. The default path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.SQL2022\MSSQL\DATA (assumes a SQL Server 2022 install)
- SQL Server includes these 5 databases by default: Master, Model (a template db), MSDB, tempdb and a resourcedb that is hidden so people don't mess it up.
- In addition to the Database Engine, you have the option to install other services that have different purposes such as SQL Server Integration Services (ETL and other tasks), SQL Server Analysis Services (Data Analytics), SQL Server Browser (helper service to direct connection traffic). SQL Server Reporting Services is now a separate download/install.
- SQL Server includes a fairly basic process for doing basic maintenance on your databases such as backups, corruption checks and defragmenting indexes. None of this is on by default when you install.
- The installation includes a management utility called SQL Server Configuration Manager. The day-to-day tools that DBAs and developers use (SQL Server Management Studio and Azure Data Studio) are separate downloads for you to install.
Remembering that this is a "first description" to a new person, what other critical elements would you add?
"SQL Server" as a whole is a huge product/suite that has many different possible careers: DBA, Developer, ETL/Data Warehouse, BI expert, Data Analyst/Report Writer.
I go through SQL Server history, installation, tools and maintenance in my beginner Pluralsight courses (subscription required):
P.S. If you would like to talk to us about your SQL Server issues please reach out!
SQL DBA Consultant at Northern Data
1 年Thanks for sharing Kevin??
E-comm Software Engineer at Mishimoto
1 年Not to be confused with "What is an SQL server"- I rarely work directly with MS SQL Server these days.. Postgres/MariaDB have taken over ecomm.
20+ years of database experience. Complex queries are my chosen playground, data integrity is my passion.
1 年"SQL Server" is a magical place, existing between the well-known realms, where your dreams of living as a minor deity can come true. All you need to do is resign yourself to mastering the archaic, yet oddly familiar, language of the "Old Gods". ??
Senior DBA and T-SQL Mentor
1 年I can't speak for others, but my greatest revelation early in my SQL career was that, although incredibly sophisticated, a database is "just" a file system and "SELECT" is "just" a macro the opens that file to the current session, finds the data it needs to read, reads it using 1 or more machine language loops (which I refer to as "Pseudo-Cursors"), and then closes the file to the session. My greatest joy as a previous Front End and File Handler Developer is that I no longer have to write loops, thanks to SQL. I can think about what I want to do to a column instead of worrying about how to load and handle rows. SQL is the only truly successful 4th generation programming language. If you want to see a really interesting 'tube on the subject, please see the attached link. I recommend 1.5X speed for a good overview but that's up to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTPGW1PNy_Y