SQL Server Express UPDATE--July 17, 2006: Managing SQL Server Express

Managing SQL Server Express

2. Check It Out

SQL Server Express Starter Kits

3. Jump Start

Backing up Your Database

4. Events and Resources

A Solutions for Windows, SQL Server, and Exchange Servers

Your Antivirus Software Effective in Detecting Spyware?

plify Management and Boost Availability

Essential Guide to SQL Server Management Fundamentals

5. Featured White Paper

belt Software's CounterSpy Enterprise Product Demo

6. New SQL Server Express Product

Server and Windows Management for SMBs

7. Announcements

Invitation for VIP Access

Save $80 On the Windows Scripting Solutions Newsletter

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1. ==== Commentary ====

Managing SQL Server Express

      by Michael Otey

Database management might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about SQL Server 2005 Express, but like any other database system, it has management requirements too. SQL Server Express has self-tuning capabilities that cut down on the number of daily tasks you need to perform to keep the database server running. In addition to daily maintenance tasks, database management involves such tasks as creating databases, tables, and views. For multiuser databases, you'll need to add users and configure the database to allow network access. And all databases need to have some type of backup-and-restore strategy in place to be able to recover from hardware, user, or application errors.

SQL Server Express has two management tools: the sqlcmd command-line utility and SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE). sqlcmd and SSMSE are the primary tools you'll use to create database tables and views and add database users. The sqlcmd tool, which is included with SQL Server Express, is great, but you'll want to be reasonably fluent with T-SQL to use it effectively. To start this tool, enter sqlcmd on the command line. SSMSE is the preferred tool for beginners because it has an easy-to-use graphical-management interface. This interface lets you perform SQL Server Express management tasks, and advanced users can perform command-based management by using the integrated Query Editor that's included with SSMSE. SSMSE is delivered as a part of SQL Server 2005 Express with Advanced Services; alternatively, you can download it separately from the Microsoft Web site at
      http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C243A5AE-4BD1-4E3D-94B8-5A0F62BF7796&displaylang=en .

Note that you can use both sqlcmd and SSMSE to manage multiple instances of SQL Server Express.

Configuring network access is another aspect of managing SQL Server Express. By default, SQL Server Express ships with network access disabled. To enable and disable network access, you can use the SQL Server Surface Area Configuration tool that ships with SQL Server Express and SQL Server Express with Advanced Services. To use the SQL Server Surface Area Configuration tool to change the network access setting, click Start, All Programs, Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Configuration Tools, SQL Server Surface Area Configuration option, Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections option. Finally, click Remote Connections from the "Select a component and then configure its services and connections" list.

The other vital database-management tasks are backup and restore. Backing up your databases lets you use the backed-up version to recover your database in the event that a server failure, user error, or application error corrupts the data in your database. You can back up your database interactively or automate the process. To interactively back up databases, you can use either sqlcmd with the BACKUP T-SQL command or SSMSE. To use SSMSE, right-click the database to open the database node you want to back up, then click Tasks, Backup option from the pop-up menu. Performing automated backups is easier than performing manual backups because once the process is in place, it doesn't require any extra manual work. Although SQL Server Express doesn’t have the built-in capability to create an automated backup procedure, you can use a combination of sqlcmd, T-SQL, and the Windows Task Scheduler to create an automated backup solution.

For more information about managing SQL Server Express, you might want to read the Microsoft whitepaper "Managing SQL Server Express with SQL Server 2005 Management Studio Express Edition" at
      http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/f/8/4f8f2dc9-a9a7-4b68-98cb-163482c95e0b/MgSQLExpwSSMSE.doc.

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2. ==== Check It Out ====

SQL Server Express Starter Kits

      by Michael Otey

There's no doubt that the quickest, easiest way to get started with any new project is to take some existing code and modify it rather than writing everything from scratch. To help you get a jump-start on your SQL Server 2005 Express projects, Microsoft has provided a collection of Starter Kits that you can use as-is or modify to suit your needs. The current set of Starter Kits includes:

Teacher Starter Kit

Collection Manager Starter Kit

Amazon-Enabled Movie Collection

Club Web Site

Personal Web Site

Time Tracker Starter Kit

You can download any or all starter kits for Visual Studio 2005 Express and SQL Server Express at
      http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/starterkit/default.aspx

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3. ==== Jump Start ====

Backing Up Your Database

      by Michael Otey

Backing up your databases isn’t just a good idea, it's a necessity--even if it's a single-user SQL Server Express installation. Murphy's Law applies to computer systems just like everything else, so be sure to back up your database regularly so that you don't lose your data and all the hard work you put into creating the database.

You can use either SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) or T-SQL commands from the sqlcmd command-line utility or Query Editor to back up your databases. However, if you want to create an unattended backup process, you really need to use T-SQL. Fortunately, the T-SQL BACKUP command is easy to master. The following code creates a disk device on which SQL Server Express can save the backup, then executes the T-SQL BACKUP command to back up the MediaCollection database.

EXEC sp_addumpdevice 'disk', 'MediaBackup',
'C:Program FilesMicrosoft SQL ServerMSSQL.1MSSQLBACKUP
MediaBackup.bak'

BACKUP DATABASE MediaCollection
      TO MediaBackup

4. ==== Events and Resources ====

HA Solutions for Windows, SQL Server, and Exchange Servers
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Simplify Management and Boost Availability
      Learn how a database utility for SQL Server can lower operational costs, simplify management, and increase the availability of your SQL Server deployment. On-demand Web seminar.
      http://www.sqlmag.com/go/seminar/polyserve/availability/?partnerref=0719emailannc

The Essential Guide to SQL Server Management Fundamentals
      Get the essential tools you need to manage a SQL Server 2005 system, SQL Server security essentials, and database backup and recovery. Download this exclusive guide today.
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5. ==== Featured White Paper ====

Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy Enterprise Product Demo
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===================================

6. ==== New SQL Server Express Product ====

SQL Server and Windows Management for SMBs

      by Blake Eno

sqlSentry announced that the core functionality of its sqlSentry Enterprise Edition solution is now available for small-to-midsized businesses (SMBs). sqlSentry Standard Edition (SE) for Windows Task Scheduler provides for Windows tasks the same functions available for SQL Server Agent jobs, including calendars with drag-and-drop rescheduling, runtime graphs, performance monitoring, notifications, and chaining. These features provide a picture of your SQL Server and Windows schedules to determine what scheduling problems might be affecting performance. Pricing for sqlSentry SE for Windows Task Scheduler starts at $195 per instance. For more information, contact sqlSentry at 704-895-6241.
      http://www.sqlsentry.net

7. ==== Announcements ====

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