Microsoft SQL Server 2016: A Comprehensive Guide for Dev

Greetings, Dev! Are you looking for a robust and reliable database management system? Look no further than Microsoft SQL Server 2016. This version offers a multitude of features and improvements that are sure to meet your needs. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of SQL Server 2016, including its features, benefits, frequently asked questions, and more. So, get ready to dive in!

Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2016

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 is a relational database management system that offers a range of features to help you efficiently manage your data. It was released in June 2016 and is the latest version of SQL Server, with improved performance and scalability compared to its predecessors.

SQL Server 2016 is a strategic tool for businesses of all sizes, thanks to its many features that can simplify the process of data management, analysis, and discovery. With SQL Server 2016, you can easily store and manage relational and non-relational data, and access it quickly and efficiently.

Key Features of SQL Server 2016

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features that make SQL Server 2016 stand out:

These are just a few of the many features that make SQL Server 2016 a powerful tool for database management. Let’s explore them in more detail below.

In-Memory OLTP: Boost Performance

In-Memory OLTP is a feature that allows you to improve the performance of your transaction processing by up to 30 times. This feature uses a memory-optimized database engine that operates entirely in-memory, offering faster processing and better scalability than traditional disk-based databases.

With In-Memory OLTP, you can take advantage of high-performance hardware, such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and non-volatile memory express (NVMe) storage, to achieve even faster processing speeds. In addition, this feature enables you to easily scale out your database by adding more memory-optimized nodes.

To use In-Memory OLTP, you need to create memory-optimized tables and stored procedures. These objects are compiled into native code, offering faster execution and lower overhead compared to disk-based tables and procedures. However, you should note that not all types of data can be stored in-memory, and some limitations apply.

In-Memory OLTP: Benefits

Here are some of the key benefits of In-Memory OLTP:

• Faster transaction processing: In-Memory OLTP can process up to 30 times more transactions per second than traditional disk-based databases.
• Better scalability: You can easily scale out your database by adding more memory-optimized nodes.
• Lower latency: In-Memory OLTP offers lower latency compared to disk-based databases, making it ideal for real-time applications.
• Lower cost: By using In-Memory OLTP, you can reduce the need for expensive hardware, such as high-performance disks.

Overall, In-Memory OLTP is a powerful feature that can help you achieve better performance and scalability for your database applications. Let’s now explore another key feature: Always Encrypted.

Always Encrypted: Enhanced Security

Always Encrypted is a feature that enables you to encrypt sensitive data while it is being processed, offering better security and privacy. With Always Encrypted, you can ensure that your sensitive data remains encrypted throughout the entire data processing pipeline, including storage, transmission, and retrieval.

The key benefit of Always Encrypted is that it allows you to protect your sensitive data from unauthorized access, even if your database is compromised. This feature uses a combination of keys and certificates to encrypt and decrypt data, ensuring that only authorized users can access it.

Always Encrypted uses two types of keys:

• Column Encryption Key (CEK): This key is used to encrypt the data in a specific column.
• Column Master Key (CMK): This key is used to protect the CEKs, and is stored outside the database.

By separating the CMK from the database, you can ensure that your sensitive data remains protected even if your database is compromised. In addition, Always Encrypted offers various configuration options, allowing you to balance performance and security as needed.

Always Encrypted: Benefits

Here are some of the key benefits of Always Encrypted:

• Better security: Always Encrypted protects your sensitive data from unauthorized access, even if your database is compromised.
• Enhanced privacy: With Always Encrypted, you can ensure that your sensitive data remains encrypted throughout the entire data processing pipeline.
• Flexible configuration: You can configure Always Encrypted to balance performance and security as needed.

Overall, Always Encrypted is a powerful feature that can help you protect your sensitive data and ensure compliance with various security regulations. Let’s now explore another key feature: Stretch Database.

Stretch Database: Cloud Integration

Stretch Database is a feature that allows you to easily migrate your data to the cloud, freeing up storage space and reducing costs. With Stretch Database, you can move your cold or rarely-accessed data to the cloud, while keeping your hot or frequently-accessed data on-premises.

To use Stretch Database, you need to configure an Azure SQL Database that will act as the remote server for your stretched data. Once your remote server is set up, you can easily enable Stretch Database for your database, and select the tables you want to stretch.

Stretch Database uses a combination of transparent data encryption and secure communication channels to ensure that your data remains secure during migration. In addition, Stretch Database offers various configuration options, allowing you to choose the retention period and the archive delay that best suits your needs.

Stretch Database: Benefits

Here are some of the key benefits of Stretch Database:

• Reduced storage costs: By moving your cold or rarely-accessed data to the cloud, you can free up storage space and reduce costs.
• Improved data accessibility: Stretch Database allows you to access your stretched data just like your local data, with no special queries or tools required.
• Faster data migration: Stretch Database uses secure and efficient communication channels to migrate your data to the cloud, ensuring a smooth and fast process.

Overall, Stretch Database is a powerful feature that can help you reduce costs and improve data accessibility. Let’s now explore another key feature: Query Store.

Query Store: Query Analysis

Query Store is a feature that helps you identify queries that are slow or resource-intensive, allowing you to optimize your database performance. With Query Store, you can easily track query performance over time, and identify regression or performance issues.

Query Store collects various metrics about query execution, including execution time, CPU usage, and I/O usage. This data is stored in the Query Store repository, which allows you to easily compare query plans and execution statistics over time.

In addition, Query Store allows you to force a specific query plan, or to roll back to a previous query plan if necessary. This feature can be particularly useful for troubleshooting performance issues or ensuring consistent query execution.

Query Store: Benefits

Here are some of the key benefits of Query Store:

• Better performance optimization: Query Store allows you to identify slow or resource-intensive queries, and optimize their performance over time.
• Easier troubleshooting: With Query Store, you can easily compare query plans and execution statistics over time, and roll back to a previous query plan if necessary.
• Consistent query execution: Query Store allows you to force a specific query plan, ensuring consistent query execution even in complex or changing environments.

Overall, Query Store is a powerful feature that can help you optimize your database performance and troubleshoot issues with ease. Let’s now explore another key feature: JSON Support.

JSON Support: Web Integration

JSON Support is a feature that allows you to work with JSON data, making it easier to integrate with web applications and services. With JSON Support, you can store and query JSON data in your database, and easily convert between JSON and relational formats.

JSON Support offers various functions and operators that allow you to manipulate JSON data, such as JSON_VALUE(), JSON_QUERY(), and ISJSON(). These functions allow you to extract, query, and validate JSON data, just like you would with relational data.

In addition, JSON Support offers various indexing options that optimize query performance for JSON data. For example, you can create computed columns that extract specific values from JSON data, and then index those columns to improve search performance.

JSON Support: Benefits

Here are some of the key benefits of JSON Support:

• Better web integration: JSON Support allows you to work with JSON data, making it easier to integrate with web applications and services.
• Flexible data storage: JSON Support allows you to store JSON data in your database, and easily convert between JSON and relational formats.
• Optimized query performance: JSON Support offers various indexing options that optimize query performance for JSON data.

Overall, JSON Support is a powerful feature that can help you work with JSON data and improve web integration. Let’s now explore some frequently asked questions about SQL Server 2016.

SQL Server 2016 FAQ

What are the system requirements for SQL Server 2016?

The system requirements for SQL Server 2016 depend on the features you want to use, and the size and complexity of your database. However, here are some general guidelines:

• Processor: 1.4 GHz or faster
• RAM: At least 2GB, but 4GB or more is recommended
• Hard disk space: At least 6 GB, but 10 GB or more is recommended
• Operating system: Windows Server 2012 or later, or Windows 8.1 or later

What are the licensing options for SQL Server 2016?

SQL Server 2016 offers various licensing options, depending on your needs and budget. Here are some of the most common licensing options:

• Per core: This licensing model allows you to license individual cores on your server, and requires a minimum of 4 core licenses per physical processor.
• Server + CAL: This licensing model allows you to license individual servers and client devices, and requires a server license for each instance of SQL Server, plus CALs for each client device.
• Enterprise Agreement: This licensing model offers flexible and cost-effective licensing options for large organizations, and allows you to customize your licensing based on your specific needs.

What are the benefits of upgrading to SQL Server 2016?

Upgrading to SQL Server 2016 can offer a range of benefits, depending on your current environment and needs. Here are some of the most common benefits:

• Better performance: SQL Server 2016 offers various features, such as In-Memory OLTP and Query Store, that can improve database performance and scalability.
• Enhanced security: SQL Server 2016 offers various security features, such as Always Encrypted and Row-Level Security, that can help you protect your sensitive data and comply with various security regulations.
• Improved web integration: SQL Server 2016 offers various features, such as JSON Support, that can make it easier to integrate with web applications and services.

What are the limitations of SQL Server 2016?

SQL Server 2016 has some limitations that you should be aware of, depending on your specific needs and requirements. Here are some of the most common limitations:

• Unsupported features: SQL Server 2016 may not support some features that were available in previous versions, or may have limited support for certain features.
• Hardware requirements: SQL Server 2016 may require higher hardware specifications than previous versions, depending on the features you want to use.
• Compatibility issues: SQL Server 2016 may not be compatible with some third-party applications or services, depending on their requirements.

How do I install SQL Server 2016?

To install SQL Server 2016, you can follow these general steps:

1. Download the SQL Server 2016 installer from the Microsoft website.
2. Run the installer, and select the features you want to install.
3. Configure the installation settings, such as the installation directory, the service accounts, and the instance name.
4. Complete the installation process, and configure any additional settings as needed.

For more detailed instructions, you can refer to the SQL Server 2016 documentation or online resources.

Conclusion

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 is a powerful tool for database management, offering a range of features that can simplify the process of data management, analysis, and discovery. With SQL Server 2016, you can easily store and manage relational and non-relational data, and access it quickly and efficiently.

In this article, we explored some of the key features of SQL Server 2016, including In-Memory OLTP, Always Encrypted, Stretch Database, Query Store, and JSON Support. We also answered some frequently asked questions about SQL Server 2016, such as the system requirements, licensing options, benefits, and limitations.

We hope that this article has provided you with a comprehensive guide to Microsoft SQL Server 2016, and that it helps you make an informed decision about your database management needs. Thank you for reading!