This document provides an overview of graph databases and their applications, contrasting them with relational databases. It discusses the importance of relationships between data, highlights the ease of setting up SQL Server 2017 for graph functionality, and includes notes on related tools and frameworks. The document concludes by emphasizing the useful capabilities that SQL Server's graph functionalities offer.

1. Graph Databases and SQL Server 2017
By John Staveley
25/01/2018
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/johnstaveley/
@johnstaveley

2. Overview
What are graph databases?
Why not relational?
Applications of graph databases
Setting up SQL Server 2017
Demo
Summary

3. What is a graph database?
Node
Edge
Where relations between data matter more than the data
itself
Examples:
Nodes:

People

Cities
Edge

Likes

Lives In

Travel Distance

4. What is a graph database?

5. Why not relational?
Modelling friends and friends of friends relationally
Who are bob's friends? OK
Who is friends with bob? (OK but requires table scan of
PersonFriend)
Who are the friends of my friends? (Not Ok – requires
recursive joins)

6. Applications
Where relations between data matter more than the data itself
Product recommendations
Fraud Detection
Supply chain/ airline visibility and planning
Social web
Understanding customers
Network planning

7. Demo
Start up docker
Pull SQL Server 2017 image
docker pull microsoft/mssql-server-linux:2017-latest
Start up SQL Server on docker
docker run -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e
'MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD=<securepassword>' -e 'MSSQL_PID=Developer' -p
1401:1433 --name sqlserver1 -d microsoft/mssql-server-linux:2017-latest
Connect to SQL Server using SSMS
Create nodes
Create edges
Query MATCH syntax

8. Notes
No support in Entity framework
CosmosDb (Gremlin syntax, supported in .Net)
Neo4J (integrates with .Net)
Visualisation: Linkurious, Keylines, sigmajs, D3, yWorks,
CytoScope

9. Summary
 SQL Server Graph capabilities are easy to set up and run
 Graph functionality provides useful new capabilities
 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/quickstart-install-
connect-docker
 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-
databases/graphs/sql-graph-sample
 Free eBook (http://graphdatabases.com/)

10. Summary
 SQL Server Graph capabilities are easy to set up and run
 Graph functionality provides useful new capabilities
 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/quickstart-install-
connect-docker
 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-
databases/graphs/sql-graph-sample
 Free eBook (http://graphdatabases.com/)