Welcome to our series called an introduction to SQL Server, where we will explore the various features, editions, and capabilities of this powerful database management system. In the first post in the series, we will dive into the different editions of SQL Server available for on-premises deployment and briefly touch on the various flavours of SQL Server available in Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft SQL Server is a versatile and robust relational database management system (RDBMS) that comes in several editions, each tailored to meet different needs and use cases. Here are the primary on-premises editions:

SQL Server Express

SQL Server Express is a free, entry-level edition designed for lightweight applications and development purposes.

SQL Express Key Features and Limitations:

• Limited to
  • 10 GB of database size.
  • 1 GB of memory
  • And 1 CPU.
• This is the very basic entry level SQL Servers. The limitations mean that despite it’s price, it’s free, it won’t make a good solution for (m)any production workloads. That said in my experience as a consultant I have seen it deployed for many solutions, that perhaps its shouldn’t have been used for.

SQL Server Developer

SQL Server Developer edition provides all the features of the Enterprise edition (read on) but is licensed for development and testing purposes only, not for production use.

• • Key Features:
    • Full feature set of SQL Server.
    • It is intended for developers to build and test applications.

SQL Server Developer can really help you license some of your non-production environments. Especially if you use SQL Server Enterprise edition. It is free to use. I see this deployed very regularly in development and test enviornments

SQL Server Web

SQL Server Web edition designed specifically for web hosting environments.

• • Key Features:
    • Apparently it has an Affordable pricing model for web service providers.
    • Limited to supporting internet-facing web applications.

I have not encountered one customer or client who has used SQL Server Web edition.

SQL Server Standard

SQL Server Standard edition is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses that require basic database, reporting, and analytics capabilities. At least that’s what the marketing material suggest it’s for. The reality is SQL Server Standard can be the perfect solution for your on premises databases if you don’t need any of the enterprise edition features

• • Key Features:
    • Supports up to 24 cores.
    • Includes basic high-availability options.
    • Enhanced performance and security features compared to Express.

SQL Server Enterprise

SQL Server  Enterprise edition is the most comprehensive edition, designed for mission-critical applications requiring high performance, scalability, and advanced security.

• • Key Features:
    • Unlimited cores and RAM.
    • Advanced high availability (Always On Availability Groups).
    • Comprehensive data warehousing and business intelligence capabilities.
    • Advanced security features,  such as database level auditing and Always Encrypted.

1. Azure SQL Database

   • A fully managed relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) that offers the latest SQL Server capabilities in the cloud.
   • Key Features:
     • Scalable performance levels and storage.
     • Built-in high availability, automated backups, and patching.
     • Advanced security features and compliance.

2. Azure SQL Managed Instance

   • A fully managed instance of SQL Server that offers near 100% compatibility with the on-premises SQL Server environment.
   • Key Features:
     • Simplifies migration of SQL Server applications to the cloud.
     • Supports features like SQL Agent, DBMail, and cross-database queries.
     • Built-in high availability and automated backups.

3. SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines

   • Allows running SQL Server on virtual machines in Azure, providing full control over the operating system and SQL Server configuration.
   • Key Features:
     • Ideal for applications requiring full SQL Server features.
     • Customizable and scalable resources.
     • Integration with Azure services for enhanced functionality.

How can you check your edition?

How can you check your edition if your are running SQL Server on premises? well, there are a couple of ways. Using SQL Server Management Studio, you can

1. Right-click on the SQL Server instance
2. Click on Properties
3. It’ll be the first line on the general page of the properties tab

You can retrieve it via code too. If you have a new query window open in SQL Server Management Studio you can run

select @@VERSION as SQLEdition

Useful Links

SQL Server Training

Getting started with Azure: Creating an Azure Virtual Machine