SQL Server Magazine

In This Issue: SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is an easy, inexpensive choice for ISVs who need a capable database back end for their applications. PLUS, learn to populate your database tables, and check out the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP2 CTP!

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Enhancing SQL Protection: A Case for Asynchronous Replication http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlprotection/?code=SQLExpTop1120

ESG Lab Validation Study: PolyServe Database Utility http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/polyserve/esg/?code=SQLExpMid1120

Enhance SQL Reporting Services with Double-Take http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlreporting/?code=SQLExpHot1120

======= Contents ======================

November 20, 2006

Commentary

Features

Resources and Events

Featured White Paper

Special Event: SharePoint Pro Online--LIVE!

Exclusive Email Offers

====== Sponsor: Double-Take Software =========================

Enhancing SQL Protection: A Case for Asynchronous Replication Built-in SQL Server data protection features aren’t enough. Learn to use an automated data protection solution that provides 24x7 availability to meet today’s critical business demands. http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlprotection/?code=SQLExpTop1120

1. ====== Commentary ======

ISVs: Climb Aboard the SQL Server Express Bandwagon by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.com

At last week's Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) Community Summit in Seattle Washington, I got the opportunity to talk to several Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) about their current software offerings and some of their future product plans. One thing that I found really exciting was that even a full year after the its initial release, vendors are still excited about SQL Server 2005, and lot of new SQL Server 2005 products are on the way. However, I was surprised at the number of existing and new products that don’t include SQL Server 2005 Express Edition as an installation option. Many vendors are requiring the use of an existing SQL Sever installation for their products. Others are still using MSDE.

I found this trend surprising for several reasons. Just about all of the products I looked at used SQL Server as a data repository, and few, if any, of them require capacity that exceeds the limits of SQL Server 2005 Express. SQL Server 2005 Express supports up to 1GB of RAM and multiple databases of up to 4GB, which enables its use as a data repository for a pretty good-sized application.

Next, in addition to its more-than-adequate capacity, SQL Server 2005 Express licensing and redistribution rights make it easy for ISVs and in-house software providers to include SQL Server 2005 Express with their products. The primary restriction in including SQL Server 2005 Express with a third-party product is that you must add significant functionality beyond what’s offered in the product itself. This basically means you can’t repackage and resell SQL Server 2005 Express as a database program, but you can freely use it as a database for an application that provides additional functionality. Plus, as part of your installation, you need to make sure that distributors and end users have the ability to read and accept the SQL Server 2005 Express end-user license agreement.

Those are the only real technical requirements. In addition, you need to register for redistribution rights, which essentially means that you notify Microsoft of your intent to redistribute the product. Microsoft has also significantly improved the SQL Server 2005 Express installation process, so it’s easier to install than MSDE. The new SQL Server 2005 Express installation process is Windows Installer (MSI) based and supports automated installations.

Any ISV that's distributing applications that use a SQL Server database back end should definitely be planning to include SQL Server 2005 Express as an installation option--as long as the application’s requirements don’t exceed the capacity of the SQL Server 2005 Express database. For most applications, SQL Server 2005 Express’s capacity is more than adequate, plus the licensing and installation capabilities really remove the other potential hurdles. In the end, the most important part is that the option provides customers with more choices, and that's always a plus.

You can find out more information about redistributing SQL Server 2005 Express and register for redistribution rights at: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/express/redistregister.mspx . In addition, you can find information about how to bundle SQL Server 2005 Express as a part of your own installation process at the SQL Server Books Online (BOL) help topic "How to: Install SQL Server 2005 from the Command Prompt" at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144259.aspx .

*********** PolyServe ******************************

ESG Lab Validation Study: PolyServe Database Utility ESG’s independent testing lab verified substantial gains in utilization, availability and database manageability with the use of a unique approach to virtualization, as presented by PolyServe. Find out more about this powerful platform for your SQL Server deployments--saving your department up to 70% of TCO and streamlining management. http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/polyserve/esg/?code=SQLExpMid1120

2. ==== Features =======================

Jump Start: Entering and Editing Data by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.com

In my last Jump Start column, “Creating Database Diagrams” (http://www.sqlmag.com/Article/ArticleID/94166/sql_server_94166.html ), I explained how to use the SQL Server 2005 Express Database Diagrams tool to visually design and generate database tables. However, once those tables are created, the next step is getting data into them. The most common way to populate tables is to write a Visual Basic (VB) or C# application that updates the tables. But for light-duty work or initial testing, you might not have the luxury of waiting for the time it takes to code the application. Fortunately, SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) provides a basic table editor that you can use to enter, update, and delete data in a SQL Server Express table.

To use the SSMSE table editor, start SSMSE, then expand the Databases node followed by the node of the database that contains the table you want to edit. Next, right-click the table that you want to edit and select Open Table from the context menu. One word of warning: The context menu also displays an option that's temptingly named Modify. The Modify option opens the Table Designer, which lets you change the table's schema--not the data. The Open Table option lets you view and edit the data. Selecting the Open Table option opens the table, returns the first rows in the table, and displays them in a grid. To add a row, fill in the column values on the row marked with an asterisk. To modify data, simply click the column that you want to update and change the data. Moving off the column saves the changes. To delete a row, right-click the row and select Delete from the context menu.

***** HOT SPOT: Double-Take Software ************************

Enhance SQL Reporting Services with Double-Take SQL Reporting Services is an exciting way for organizations to gain access and insight into their important business data stored in SQL Server. Get an overview of how to increase your production server's performance by offloading Reporting Services to a secondary server. Download your free copy today! http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlreporting/?code=SQLExpHot1120

*************************************************

Check It Out: SQL Server 2005 SP2 CTP by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.com

If you're planning to run SQL Server 2005 Express Edition on Windows Vista, you'll definitely be interested in Microsoft's latest service pack. The SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2 (SP2) Community Technology Preview (CTP) addresses the User Access Control (UAC) problems that arise when you’re trying to run SQL Server Express on Windows Vista. The CTP also contains several other general fixes for SQL Server Express. You can download the SP2 CTP at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=83a26557-59af-4149-8c8c-95dba1872c47&displaylang=en .

If you do go ahead and download SQL Server 2005 Express SP2, remember that this CTP is still prerelease code that's primarily made available to provide early experience and testing. You shouldn’t install this release on production systems.

3. ==== Resources and Events ===========

Can you set up a single sign-on environment for Linux and Windows? After attending this free seminar from TechX World on December 14, you'll be able to! We'll discuss the different authentication mechanisms used by Windows and Linux and show how you can configure networked Linux systems to accept logons in a secure manner using Windows AD accounts. Register today! http://events.unisfair.com/rt/techx?code=1122emailannc

Do you have visibility of and control over your software licenses? Most organizations face serious challenges, such as understanding vendor licensing models, cost overruns, missed deadlines and business opportunities, and lost user productivity. Learn to address these challenges and prepare for audits. Register for the free Web seminar, available now! http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/macrovision/softwarelicensing/?partnerref=1122emailannc

BONUS: Register for any Web seminar--live or on-demand--during the month of November, and you could win a PS3! View a full list of eligible seminars at http://www.windowsitpro.com/events/Index.cfm?Filter=webSeminars&fID

Are you an Oracle professional who has cross-platform responsibilities, or do you need to transfer your skill set to SQL Server? If so, register for free to attend the Cross Platform Data online event January 30 and 31 and February 1, 2007. In a seminar featuring SQL Server/Oracle experts Andrew Sisson from Scalability Experts and Douglas McDowell from Solid Quality Learning, you'll learn key concepts about SQL Server 2005, including how to deploy SQL Server's BI capabilities on Oracle, proof points demonstrating that SQL Server is enterprise-ready, and how to successfully deploy Oracle on the Windows platform. http://events.unisfair.com/rt/sql/?code=1122emailannc

After disaster strikes, does recovering your data feel like digging for buried treasure? Test your disaster-recovery skills, and you could win! Each week we'll give away a USB flash drive to one lucky treasure hunter. You'll also be entered to win the full treasure chest, including Bose headphones! Test your skills now! http://popquiz.windowsitpro.com/symantectreasurehunt/default.aspx

4. ==== Featured White Paper ============

When your email systems go down, do your employees stop communicating? Of course not--they find alternative methods that might not be compliant with your messaging regulations. Download this free Executive Guide to discover the impact of email outages on compliance and learn methods for establishing continuity in your corporate messaging environment. http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/messageone/continuity/?code=1122featwp

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WANTED: Your reviews of products you've tested and used in production. Send your experiences and ratings of products to "whatshot@windowsitpro.com" and get a Best Buy gift certificate.

5. Backup and Restore Tool by Blake Eno, beno@windowsitpro.com

Databk.com announced SQL Server Backup 6.1, a backup and restore utility for SQL Server 2005 editions including SQL Server 2005 Express. The software supports full database backup, differential backup, and transaction log backups, with data compression and 128- or 256-bit encryption. The product’s email reports provide information about an unfinished or finished backup or restore job. SQL Server Backup supports multiple SQL Server instances and can restore a database to a point of failure. The software also deletes expired backups automatically. SQL Server Backup is priced at $79.95. Volume discounts are available. For more information, contact Databk.com at support@databk.com or sales@databk.com.

==== Special Event: SharePoint Pro Online--LIVE! ====

Join us for a premier virtual event for developers and administrators of SharePoint products and technologies. Brought to you by MSD2D and the Windows IT Media Community, this event will demonstrate, showcase, and exhibit the premier companies in the SharePoint market. The conference will bring industry experts to the desktops of attendees, educating them on various SharePoint topics. TO REGISTER: http://events.unisfair.com/rt/sharepoint?code=mix

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Save $40 on Windows IT Pro Subscribe to Windows IT Pro today and SAVE $40! Along with your 12 issues, you'll get FREE access to the entire Windows IT Pro online article archive, which houses more than 9,000 helpful IT articles. This is offer expires on November 30, 2006, so order now: https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu206buw

==== Contact Us ====

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