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(More customer reviews)As a long time user of SQL Server, I was glad when Microsoft finally moved away from Sybase and started developing SQL Server on their own. Unfortunately, SQL Server 7 took a bit too long to finish and I was stuck with SQL Server 6.5.
For my Enterprise work, however, I had to move to Oracle. To embed custom code, other than T-SQL code, I was also forced to move to Oracle and Java. There was no facility in SQL Server.
With the 2000 release, SQL Server finally became a contender. With far better tools than any other RDBMS and an engine that could work well with larger databases, SQL was on the right track. It just was not quite there.
With SQL Server 2005, Microsoft finally has a real contender. First, there is a very strong database engine with features that can compete with other Enterprise level databases. While there are still some features missing, the release is fairly strong.
* Database mirroring
* Failover clustering
* Database snapshots and other recovery options
SQL Server now also offers the ability to write custom code inside the database, using any .NET language, like C# and VB.NET.
SQL Server has a few built in features that bring it up a notch, as well. The database now natively handles XML as a datatype. In addition, in supports native encryption.
For the DBA, object schemas are now separated from users, allowing you to easily move ownership away from owners who have left the company. The new schema also allows for easier security on groups of objects.
Out of the box, SQL Server has a plethora of extras that have additional cost with the competition:
* The new version of DTS, now labeled SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a fully debugable ETL engine with the ability to work on multiple paths at the same time.
* Business Inteligence tools include an updated Analysis Services, the KPI (key performance indicator) framework and built in business analytics.
* Improvements to SQL Server Reporting services, including the ability to set up reporting aggregates for business users to create reports on the fly, without developer or dba time.
* SQL Server Broker - finally a easy, built in way of creating asynchronous applications in SQL Server.
On the negative, Microsoft dumped a lot of features during the beta. While I understand some of the reasons behind the removal, I would have like to have had separate date and time objects, as one example.
I also feel SQL Server Notification Services are a bit half-baked at this point in time. While much better than the version that shipped as an add-on to SQL Server 2000, they still feel a bit bolted on.
Overall, the main reason many shops will switch to SQL Server with the 2005 release comes down to ROI. With the extras out of the box, SQL Server is still a no brainer for small and medium enterprises. With this release the product is more applicable for larger enterprises, as well.
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