Microsoft SQL Server 2005

AND FINALLY...

Significant improvements have been made to the replication of data between servers, including new security and manageability enhancements and a new Replication Monitor. Transactional and snapshot replication is supported from Oracle databases and there's improved support for non-SQL Server replication subscribers. Subscribers can now replicate data using HTTPS, which is useful for Windows Mobile devices.

As well as the new Management Studio, there are tools for configuring SQL Server, tuning the database engine, profiling the performance of SQL Server and Analysis Services and Importing and Exporting data.

SQL Server 2005 is a hugely capable database system. The price has gone up compared to the 2000 version, particularly for the Enterprise Edition, but you still get a huge amount for your money. Analysis Services and Integration Services are the most obviously changed, but every area has been improved, from pure database engine performance to security of data replicated to far-flung clients. SQL Server 2000 was a great database platform; SQL Server 2005 is outstanding.

Author: Simon Jones