This document provides an overview of SQL Server 2008 Express, including what it is, its key features and limitations, installation instructions, and best practices for its usage. SQL Server Express is a free version of Microsoft's SQL Server database management system that is ideal for small applications and development uses. The document outlines when SQL Express is a good and bad fit, and recommends becoming familiar with management tools and planning an upgrade path when an application grows beyond SQL Express's limits.

1. FireStarter Events Presents:

2. Who Am I?

3. Today’s Presentation What is SQL? Overview of SQL 2008 Express SQL Express vs. SQL Guidelines for Usage Scenarios that Make Sense SQL 2008 Express Installation Using the Tools that are Available Common Management Strategies Wrap-up

4. What is SQL Server? SQL Server or Structured Query Language Server is generically, any database management system (DBMS) that can respond to queries from client machines formatted in the SQL language. When capitalized, the term generally refers to either of two database management products from Sybase and Microsoft. Both companies offer client-server DBMS products called SQL Server.

5. SQL Server 2008 Express Shares Code Base with other SQL Server 2008 Editions Tight Integration with Visual Studio and SQL Management Studio Ideal for Developing Desktop and Small Server Applications Freely Distributable by Independent Software Vendors

6. Specific to SQL Server 2008 Express Run As Normal User - RANU Eliminates the need for costly admin overhead Tightly integrates the Visual Studio IDE with SQL Server <connectionStrings> <add name=&quot;TestVB1.Settings.Database1ConnectionString&quot; connectionString=&quot;Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS; AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Database1.mdf; Integrated Security=True; User Instance=True&quot; providerName=&quot;System.Data.SqlClient&quot; /> </connectionStrings>

7. SQL Express vs. SQL SQL Express SQL Server Standard Supports up to 1.2 million records Single Socket CPU 1 GB RAM Max 4 GB Database Max Lots and Lots of records 4 CPUs Operating System Maximum for RAM No Limit to the Database Size

8. SQL Server 2008 Express

9. When is Express a Good Idea? Dedicated Hosting Environments Database Back-end for Stand-alone Application Cases where Portability is Required Low-cost Introductory Alternative

10. When is Express a Bad Idea? Shared Hosting Environments Applications with High Volume Cases where Synchronization with External SQL Instances is Required

11. Preparing for Installation SQL Server 2008 CTP, February 2008 Available via Microsoft’s Download Center SQL Server Express Utility - SSEUTIL Helpful in Interacting with SQL Express Instances Able to Connect to User Instances Target Windows XP Host Environment

12. Installing SQL Server 2008 Express

27. Configuration Manager

28. SQL Server Express Utility

29. Some Management Strategies Be aware of the limitations Leverage RANU when it makes sense Become familiar with the management utilities that are currently available Plan for a threshold at which you will upgrade to a version with higher CPU and memory limits

30. QUESTIONS

31. Thank You Steve Valenzuela [email_address] http://www.digital-mysticism.com