SQL Server Management Studio: A latest version for SQL Server 2022

The most preferred tool to manage SQL Server 2022. A well integrated tool that has grown over the years for probing, developing and montoring SQL Server. 

This is the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio [build no:20.2.30.0, released July 9,2024]. Note: it is not an upgrade to SQL Server 19.x

• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an integrated environment for managing any SQL infrastructure, from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database. 
• SSMS provides tools to configure, monitor, and administer instances of SQL Server and databases. 
• Use SSMS to deploy, monitor, and upgrade the data-tier components used by your applications and build queries and scripts.

You may download the executable from this link:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/release-notes-ssms?view=sql-server-ver16

You will find the following (SSMS-ENU) in your download:

You can doble-click the application to start installing. It takes a very short time to install as shown in these screenshots:

Click Install and installation begins.

These are some new features of the SQL Server Management Studio (from the Microsoft documentation).

Connecting to an existing SQL Server 2022:

Kindly follow the links for installing the SQL Server 2022:

https://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2024/09/installing-sql-server-2022-on-laptop.html

https://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2024/09/customized-installing-sql-server-2022.html

If your SSMS 20.2 installation is successful you should be seeing in the Windows Control Panel  several additional components to ensure a smooth and comprehensive experience in using SQL Server Management Studio:

• Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications 2019: This is necessary for certain features within SSMS that rely on Visual Studio's development environment.
• SSMS 20.2: The main application for managing SQL Server instances.
• Microsoft Help Viewer: Provides access to documentation and help files within SSMS.
• Microsoft OneDrive: This might have been included to facilitate cloud storage and synchronization of your files.

The SSMS20.2 installation also adds the launch program for the SSMS that you can find in the Search as shown here:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft SQL Server Tools.

This folder has the following files: 

Shortcut to the SSMS 20.2 launch

Shortcut to Analysis Services Deployment Wizard 20

Performance tools folder

You can doble click to launch from this location or on the Search results:

The SSMS 20.2 above when clicked launches the application and the SSMS user interface is displayed as shown:

Although the program connects to the installed version of SQL Server it is looking for a trusted connection by way of a certificate. There is a check box below Encryption (that has three options) shown above.

If you do not check this box and try to connect you get the following exception:

If you do place a checm mark saying you trust and then connect you get the following display:

This connection is now OK and the SSMS is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!

If you are looking for working with databases, stay in and learn from over 15 years of blogging on databases here.  http://hodentekMSSS.blogspot.com

You may also have a look at my database related books:

 

 

Azure SQL Database is to be fortified againt cyber threats

This cyber security will be coming soon in April 2017 offering protection from threats in addition to more sophisticated search capabilities. If you are using Azure DocumentDB then you are compliant with the latest security measures.

Securing Azure SQL Database takes just a few minutes and requires no expert knowledge of how it is done. The feature learns profiling and discovering anomalous activities and probably with built-in AI.

This is likely to cost an extra $15/month/server according to this site here .

Read here for more.
Read some more here.

Connectivity Options for Microsoft Azure SQL Database

There are many drivers and libraries that client programs can use to connect to Azure SQL Database or Microsoft SQL Server.

The following are the language options:

ADO.NET
Java using JDBC on Windows
PHP
Node.js
Python
Ruby

This enables developers to use their language of choice and appropriateness of thei application to choose.

ADO.NET related specifics here:
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/sql-database-develop-dotnet-simple/

Microsoft JDBC related information here:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/mt484311.aspx

Microsoft Node.js driver for SQL Server here:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/mt652093.aspx

Connecting with PHP use Microsoft PHP driver for SQL Server here:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/dn865013.aspx

Connect using Python:
Get Python SQL Driver
https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/mt652092.aspx

Connect using Ruby:Get Ruby driver for SQL Server here;
https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/mt652092.aspx

I have described in detail with examples connecting to SQL Azure (as it was called then) using ADO.NET, Java and PHP in my book when SQL Azure was still in Beta:

Read more about the book here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-sql-azure-book-is-published.html
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-you-want-free-copies-of-my-latest.html

Azure SQL Database is also for Apps

It is certainly the most sought after cloud based database for enterprise applications, but it is also the managed cloud database for app developers. You can easily build and maintain apps with a high degree of productivity. The intelligence is built-in that learns and adopts to maximize performance, reliability and other metrics. It is indeed the excellent choice for app builders to rely upon.

If you like you can start for free here: <https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/sql-database/>

Why would app developers would go for SQL Database?

In addition to its long history you have these unique features:

Azure SQL Database learns and adopts to your unique app patterns

SQLDBforApp_00

Scaling performance on the fly is easy

SQLDBforApp_01

Build multi-tenant apps with customer isolation

SQLDBforApp_02

Build apps with the development tool you like best

SQLDBforApp_03

Build apps with data protection and security enhancements

SQLDBforApp_04

 Read more here:
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/sql-database-learn-and-adapt/

Stretch your database from Azure Cloud to On premises server

Data need not be something fixed and your hot and cold data can be kept anywhere that makes sense. Of course you need to find which is a less expensive option and which has the priority. Try to consider the pros and cons of putting data on the cloud (energy, bandwidth, server aging; security,etc).

Why do you need this?

Well you want to archive data (historical) but you do not want to store it locally as it is not frequently accessed and your resources are inadequate. However you do want to access. No problem, a query in SSMS can access that data (remotely stored in Azure) as easily as the on premises data. It is possible there may be a bit of latency from the remote site.

Source: MSFT Blog

Wizard takes care of Stretch database

SSMS 2016 has a very good wizard to take care of the Stretch Database.  The Wizard is accessible via the Object Explorer. You need to select the database you want to extend using the Stretch Database feature. It is not necessary that you choose an entire database to extend; you can use the filter to include what you need to go into the Stretch database. Of course, since the remote is on Azure, you should have an account and proper credentials. The Stretch database is always online and querying should have no problem.

How do you enable Stretch Database feature

You need to have an instance of SQL Server 2016. Then just right click the database you want to 'Stretch' and choose the enable option as shown. Just to enable you do not need to be connected to Azure Cloud.

Stretch database is compatible with the other features; Transparent Data Encryption and Always Encrypted and Row-Level Security features.

You do require a Azure account but a free trial is available. There is a price for everything including the new Stretch database feature.

More here:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/dataplatforminsider/2016/04/13/keep-data-virtually-forever-with-stretch-database-in-sql-server-2016/

Azure Data Lake Store in private preview

Recently announced Azure Data Lake addresses the big data  3V challenges; volume, velocity and variety. It is one more storage feature in addition to blobs and SQL Azure database. Azure Data Lake (should have been Azure Data Ocean IMHO) is really omnipotent. Just look at the key capabilities of Azure Data Lake:

Any Data
Native format, distributed data store. No need to pre-define schema information. From unstructured to structured data handling.

Any Size
Kilo bytes to Exa bytes OK. Ready for read/write.

At any scale
Scale to match your needs; high volume data handling of small writes and low latency. Can Aaddress near real-time web analytics scenarios.

HDFS Compatible
Works out-of-the box with Hadoop including services such as HD Insight

Full integration with Azure Active Directory
Supporting identity and access management over all of the data.

Azure Data Lake Store  is therefore a hyper-scale HDFS repositiory designed specifically for big data analytics in the cloud. It is order made for IoT and thorughput-intensive analytics for high volume data.

Read more here.
The graphic is from a  Microsoft Technet site
I checked out the preview portal (https://portal.azure.com/), I do not see it. Possible by the end of the year.

SQL SERVER MANAGEMENT STUDIO'S New Avatar

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) always accompanied the installation of SQL Server. Now that is history. SSMS can now be independently installed starting with SSMS June 2015 Preview.
You can download it from here (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt238290.aspx).

I have been working with various versions of SSMS for quite a long time. SSMS provided the best learning experience for SQL Server. In fact most of my learning was on SSMS. However, at times there were problems as well, especially with multiple versions of SQL Servers including the preview editions with expiry dates. The client (SSMS) used to be linked to the expiry dates and the other installed versions could not be accessed as the client always complained that the Server was out of date. It required repairing the shared components that always did not work correctly either due to the unavailability of the installation media or some other reason. This de-linking of SSMS from SQL Server probably would solve the problem.

Installing with Web Installer makes it lot more easier and attractive.



These are the new enhancements for SSMS(from BOL):

•     New SSMS Installer - SSMS can now be installed with a light weight stand-alone web installer.
• SSMS Updates - Receive notification within SSMS when new updates are available, and choose to install them at your convenience.
• Enhanced SSMS support for Azure SQL Database – Several fixes and enhancements, including expanded SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) coverage, and an updated Import/Export wizard.

It is time for you to switch as well.
------------------------------
Notes on Installing:
http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2015/07/notes-on-installing-sql-server.html

Creating a Azure App Service

Read about the Azure new App Service here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2015/03/microsofts-rolls-out-new-azure-app.html

and the pricing info here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2015/03/azure-app-svc-pricing-highlights.html

You need to get to the Azure new portal here:
http://portal.azure.com
which takes you to the secure site here:
https://portal.azure.com/1cfd8109-1cce-4dbb-9a1c-80d0ebd45766#
I assume you have an Azure subscription. The site appears as shown.

NewPortal-01

The first thing you need to do is to click on +New at the very bottom at this
secure site.

Items that can be created in the new portal gets displayed as shown.

NewPortal-02

Click on Web+mobile. The items related to the new apps appear as shown.

NewPortal-03


Let us create a Mobile App to see what is needed. Click on Mobile App.
New Mobile App window is displayed as shown.

NewPortal-04

The exclamation mark in the Name field means that this has already been taken by
Microsoft. You need to create a new one. By providing a name you will be creating
a new API instance.

You can provide your own name and in the Package Settings you will be guided to a
UserDatabase for which you need to create one if you don't already have. Of course
you need to choose a Service Tier as the following image shows:

NewPortal-05

The pricing information is dispalyed for Premium, Standard and Basic. Here is
screen capture for the price range.

NewPortal_06

I do not see the Free and Shared ( I drop-off here!) perhaps you have to go back to the main site and
click on free trial. If you are ready to charge it to card go ahead and choose a tier appropriate to your needs.

Azure SQL Databases going to cost even lower after September 2014

Another name is price war and the battle is on going on all fronts. There has been news on the
internet regarding Microsoft's pricewar with Amazon and Google vis-a vis its cloud offerings.
http://www.informationweek.com/cloud/infrastructure-
as-a-service/microsoft-battles-google-amazon-in-
cloud-price-war/d/d-id/1141625

Although Cloud business (the thriving one) is only a small part of Microsoft right now it makes sense to make it invincible.

http://www.citeworld.com/article/2456966/business-money/microsofts-cloud-business-is-on-fire.html

Old prices and service tiers here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2014/05/microsoft-azure-sql-database-service.html

Come September the price for Azure SQL Databases will be  slashed.
Reduced pricing and enhanced SLA available in September. Read here:
http://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2014/08/26/new-azure-sql-database-service-tiers-generally-available-in-september-with-reduced-pricing-and-enhanced-sla/

The new pricing is as in the following image from the above site:

Note that a new S0(S-Zero) performance level has been added in the Standard tier meant for lower-cost entry point.

How do you sign up for Azure DocumentDB?

You need to get to the Azure preview portal here:
https://portal.azure.com/hodenteklive.onmicrosoft.com

Of course you would be needing an account on the Microsoft Azure.

You could also start here:

Once in the preview portal click on the Azure Gallery at the bottom of the page shown in this partial screenshot.

Gallery listing gets shown.

In the gallery listing shown click on Data storage, cache, +backup
Another set of related list of services gets displayed.

Click on DocumentDB.

DocumentDB is displayed with some summrized information. You can also create a DocumentDB service.

Here is the pricing information for DocumentDB presently only avilable in US West and European datacenters.

Click create to open the window for filling in details for the service you want to create. Name field has restrictions (Small ccase, numbers etc.)

Click create after filling up details.
Th program starts creating a service in the preview portal as shown.

After may be 20 minutes or so, the service was created

Read forth coming posts here and here.


 

Get started with Windows Azure Mobile Services

It is incredibly easy to add a backend to your connected client application using Windows Azure Mobile Services (WAMS).

With WAMS you can provide a secure and scalable backend to power your apps not only on Windows but many other platforms such as iOS, Android etc. Storing data and authenticating users is effortless and you can even send push notifications. As to programming languages you can use Node.JS or C#.

There are several data storage options as well, on-premises or Azure SQL Satabase, blob storage, table storage and MongoDB.

Here is a small sample of customers leverging this service.

When you create a Windows Azure Mobile Service you can also create a (free) backend SQL Database as well.

Follow this link to create your first Windows Azure Mobile Service.