What is SQL Server?

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS). Applications and tools connect to a SQL Server instance or database, and communicate using Transact-SQL (T-SQL).

What is an RDBMS?

An RDBMS, or Relational Database Management System, is a type of database management system that stores data in tables with rows and columns. The concept of RDBMS was introduced by E.F. Codd in the 1970s, revolutionizing the way data is organized and managed in computer systems.

Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) form the backbone of modern data management, providing a structured and efficient way to store, organize, and retrieve data. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of RDBMS, their key components, and their importance in the world of information management.

Key Components of RDBMS:

1. Tables:

·     The fundamental building block of an RDBMS is the table. Tables are used to store data in a structured format. Each table consists of rows and columns, where each row represents a record, and each column represents a specific attribute or field.

      2. Rows:

• Rows, also known as records or tuples, represent individual data entries within a table. Each row contains a set of values, one for each column, corresponding to a specific instance of data.

      3. Columns:

• Columns define the attributes or properties of the data stored in a table. Each column has a unique name and a specific data type, such as text, numeric, date, etc.

      4. Relationships:

• RDBMS supports the establishment of relationships between tables. These relationships enforce data integrity and allow for efficient data retrieval across multiple tables.

      5. Primary Keys:

• Each table typically has a primary key, which is a unique identifier for each record in the table. Primary keys ensure the uniqueness of each row and facilitate relationships between tables.

      6. Foreign Keys:

• Foreign keys establish links between tables. They are columns in one table that refer to the primary key in another table. Foreign keys maintain referential integrity and support the concept of normalization.

Importance of RDBMS:

1. Data Integrity:
• RDBMS enforces data integrity through the use of constraints, such as primary keys, foreign keys, unique constraints, and check constraints.
2. Query Language:
• Structured Query Language (SQL) is the language used to interact with RDBMS. SQL provides a standardized way to query, update, and manipulate data within the database.
3. Scalability:
• RDBMS systems are scalable and can handle a large volume of data. As data grows, RDBMS allows for efficient management and retrieval through the optimization of queries.
4. Security:
• RDBMS systems provide robust security features, including user authentication, authorization, and encryption. Access to data is controlled to ensure data confidentiality and integrity.
5. Flexibility:
• RDBMS offers flexibility in data modeling. Tables can be modified and relationships can be established or modified without disrupting the entire database structure.

In conclusion, RDBMS is a powerful and essential technology in the world of data management. Its structured approach to organizing data in tables, along with the ability to establish relationships between them, ensures data integrity, scalability, and efficient retrieval. Whether in business applications, scientific research, or everyday web services, the use of RDBMS continues to be a cornerstone for managing and harnessing the power of data.

Deployment Options of SQL Server

You can install SQL Server on Windows or Linux, deploy it in a Linux container, or deploy it on an Azure Virtual Machine or other virtual machine platform. You previously might have referred to this as the boxed product.

The underlying SQL Server Database Engine is also used by the following products and services from Microsoft:

• Azure SQL Database
• Azure SQL Managed Instance
• Microsoft Analytics Platform System (PDW)
• Azure Synapse Analytics
• Azure SQL Edge

SQL Server components and technologies

This section describes some of the key technologies available in SQL Server.

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

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

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 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

SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) 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

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) 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

Data Quality Services (DQS) 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

Master Data Services (MDS) 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.

Azure integration

Although SQL Server is a standalone product, which can be installed on computers running Windows and Linux operating systems, you can integrate your SQL Server instances with several Azure services.

Azure Virtual Machines

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines enables you to use full versions of SQL Server in the cloud without having to manage any on-premises hardware. SQL Server virtual machines (VMs) also simplify licensing costs when you pay as you go.

Azure virtual machines run in many different geographic regions around the world. They also offer various machine sizes. The virtual machine image gallery allows you to create a SQL Server VM with the right version, edition, and operating system. This makes virtual machines a good option for many different SQL Server workloads.

Azure Arc

SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc simplifies governance and management by delivering a consistent multicloud and on-premises management platform. Azure Arc provides a centralized, unified way to manage your entire environment together, combining existing non-Azure and/or on-premises virtual machines, Kubernetes clusters, and databases into Azure Resource Manager.

You can use Azure services and management capabilities, introduce DevOps practices to support new cloud native patterns in your environment, and configure custom locations as an abstraction layer on top of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes clusters and cluster extensions, regardless of where your resources live.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a managed Kubernetes service for deploying and managing container clusters. With SQL Server on Linux containers, you can deploy a SQL Server Linux container to AKS using Helm charts.