Light weight Db Server No More
Previously I applied to take part in beta-testing Sql Server Express with Advanced Services from the
SqlServer Express Team. They instead changed the testing to CTP instead of per invitation and I'm impressed with inclusion of Reporting Services in the CTP of Advanced Services, as this was previously available only in Ent. ed, Workgroup. Here is the outline of the Advanced services:
SQL Server Express Edition with SP1 (SQLEXPR.EXE)
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SQL Server Express) is a powerful and
reliable data management product that delivers rich features, data
protection, and performance for embedded application clients, light Web
applications, and local data stores. Designed for easy deployment and
rapid prototyping, SQL Server Express is available at no cost, and you
are free to redistribute it with applications. If you need more
advanced database features, then SQL Server Express can be seamlessly
upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.
SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services (SQLEXPR_ADV.EXE)
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services is a new, free
version of SQL Server Express that includes additional features for
reporting and advanced text based searches. In addition to the features
offered in SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, SQL Server Express with
Advanced Services offers additional components that include SQL Server
Management Studio Express (SSMSE), support for full-text catalogs, and
support for viewing reports via report server. SQL Server Express
Edition with Advanced Services also includes SP1.
SQL Server Express Edition Toolkit (SQLEXPR_TOOLKIT.EXE)
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit (SQL Server Express Toolkit)
provides tools and resources to manage SQL Server Express and SQL
Server Express Edition with Advanced Services. It also allows creating
reports by using SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (SSRS).
SQL Server Management Studio Express (SQLServer2005_SSMSEE.msi)
SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) provides a graphical
management tool for managing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL
Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services instances. SSMSE can
also manage relational engine instances created by any edition of SQL
Server 2005. SSMSE cannot manage Analysis Services, Integration
Services, SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition, Notification Services,
Reporting Services, or SQL Server Agent.Having no access to the full blown Sql Server 2005(for now), additional features for the express product is a great boon to me or any sql developer. Now our internal web application can take advantage of Reporting services for reports. Hopefully this will still be free once it's RC'ed or RTM'ed.
The light-weight has moved up a notch, and I'm not talking only of the features as it weighs around a hefty 600MB of download. So what are you waiting for get ready to
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