Lesson 1

This course introduces you to monitoring and configuring SQL Server.
This course will enable you to monitor and configure SQL Server.
The Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification exams were retired in June 2022, including those related to database fundamentals and SQL Server. MTA certifications, such as Exam 98-364: Database Fundamentals, were historically aligned with SQL Server, but they are no longer available.
For SQL Server 2023, Microsoft recommends transitioning to role-based certifications, such as the Azure Database Administrator Associate certification, which covers SQL Server both on-premises and in Azure environments. This certification is more aligned with current SQL Server technologies and includes the

• DP-300 exam: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure, which focuses on managing and optimizing SQL Server and Azure SQL databases.

If you're working with SQL Server, pursuing this certification path will help you stay updated with modern database administration skills.

• Course Goals
  1. completing the course, you will be able to:
  2. Load data and extract data
  3. Monitor SQL Server
  4. Monitor SQL Server using Windows Server Administration tools
  5. Monitor SQL-Server Databases
  6. Use SQL Server Profiler
  7. Automate administration tasks
  8. Configure SQL Server
  9. Set SQL Server Advanced Options

• SQL Server 1.0 was jointly released in 1989 by Microsoft, Sybase, and Ashton-Tate. The product was based on Sybase SQL Server 3.0 for Unix and VMS.
• SQL Server 4.2.1 for Windows NT was released in 1993. Microsoft began making changes to the code.
• SQL Server 6.0 (code-named SQL 95) was released in 1995. In 1996, the 6.5 upgrade (Hydra) was released. It included the first version of Enterprise Manager (StarFighter I) and SQL Server Agent (StarFighter II).
• SQL Server 7.0 (Sphinx) was released in 1999, and was a full rewrite of the Database Engine by Microsoft. From a code perspective, this was the first Microsoft SQL Server. SQL Server 7 also included English Query (Argo), OLAP Services (Plato), replication, Database Design and Query tools (DaVinci) and Full-Text Search (aptly code-named Babylon.) Data Transformation Services (DTS) is also introduced.
• SQL Server 2000 (Shiloh) 32-bit, version 8, introduced SQL Server to the enterprise with clustering, much better performance, and real OLAP. It supported XML though three different XML add-on packs. It added userdefined functions, indexed views, clustering support, Distributed Partition Views, and improved replication. SQL Server 2000 64-bit version for Intel Itanium (Liberty) was released in 2003, along with the first version of Reporting Services (Rosetta) and Data Mining tools (Aurum). DTS became more powerful and gained in popularity. Northwind joined Pubs as the sample database.
• SQL Server 2005 (Yukon), version 9, was another rewrite of the Database Engine and pushed SQL Server further into the enterprise space. 2005 added a ton of new features and technologies, including Service Broker, Notification Services, CLR, XQuery and XML data types, and SQLOS. T-SQL gained try-catch and the system tables were replaced with Dynamic Management Views (DMVs). Management Studio replaced EnterpriseManager and Query Analyzer. DTS is replaced by Integration Services. English Query was removed, and stored procedure debugging was moved from the DBA interface to Visual Studio. AdventureWorks and AdventureWorksDW replaced Northwind and Pubs as the sample databases. SQL Server 2005 supported 32-bit, 64x, and Itanium CPUs. Steve Ballmer publically vowed to never again make customers wait five years between releases, and to return to a 2–3 year release cycle. My favorite new features? T-SQL Try-Catch, Index Include columns, VarChar(max), windowing/ranking functions, and DMVs.
• SQL Server 2008 (Katmai), version 10, is a natural evolution of SQL Server, adding Policy-BasedManagement, data compression, Resource Governor, and new beyond relational data types. Notification Services go the way of English Query. T-SQL finally gets date and time data types and table-valued parameters, the debugger returns, and Management Studio gets IntelliSense. My favorite new features? Table-valued parameters and policy-based management.
• SQL Server 2012 (2012)
  • Introduction: This version focused heavily on data availability and performance improvements.
  • Key Features: Introduced AlwaysOn Availability Groups for high availability, a new ColumnStore Index for performance improvements, Data Quality Services (DQS), and improvements to Power View for data visualization. BI capabilities were also enhanced.
• SQL Server 2014 (2014)
  • Introduction: SQL Server 2014 introduced in-memory capabilities and additional performance enhancements.
  • Key Features: In-Memory OLTP (Hekaton) for better transactional processing, Buffer Pool Extension to allow SSDs to serve as a buffer cache, and enhanced hybrid cloud support with integration to Microsoft Azure.
• SQL Server 2016 (2016)
  • Introduction: This version focused on performance, security, and integration with Microsoft's cloud services.
  • Key Features: Introduced Always Encrypted, Row-Level Security, Stretch Database (allowing data to be spread across on-premises and Azure), JSON support, and a revamped Reporting Services (SSRS). Microsoft also made SQL Server on Linux available for the first time in a preview form.
• SQL Server 2017 (2017)
  • Introduction: The most notable change with SQL Server 2017 was cross-platform support.
  • Key Features: Full Linux support, improvements in Adaptive Query Processing, Graph Data Support, and Python integration for analytics using SQL Server Machine Learning Services.
• SQL Server 2019 (2019)
  • Introduction: SQL Server 2019 focused on big data and included improvements to the management of complex data environments.
  • Key Features: Introduced Big Data Clusters for managing data lakes, integrated Apache Spark, and Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). Enhanced intelligent query processing, always encrypted with secure enclaves, and containers for deployment flexibility were also added.
• SQL Server 2022 (2022)
  • Introduction: SQL Server 2022 offered tighter integration with Azure and made significant improvements in cloud support, hybrid environments, and AI-driven processes.
  • Key Features: Introduced Azure Synapse Link integration, Azure Purview for governance, Ledger (for blockchain-based integrity protection), Query Store for Availability Groups, and better performance for PolyBase.
• SQL Server 2023 (Upcoming)
  • Introduction: SQL Server 2023 is expected to build on the cloud-native features introduced in SQL Server 2022, with a continued emphasis on hybrid environments and integration with Microsoft's Azure ecosystem.
  • Key Features (Predicted): Expected advancements include improvements in AI-driven optimizations, more seamless Azure integration, enhanced security features, and further refinements in data analytics capabilities.

Summary From SQL Server 7.0 to SQL Server 2023, Microsoft's flagship database platform has evolved significantly, expanding its capabilities in handling larger data volumes, supporting modern enterprise requirements, enhancing security, and offering deep integration with cloud services. The addition of cross-platform support and AI-powered features showcases Microsoft's forward-thinking approach to data management in an increasingly hybrid and cloud-first world.

You will learn and practice SQL Server system administration skills with the assistance of interactive tools.
The Series Configuration and Monitoring is the last of three courses in the Microsoft SQL Server 2023 System Administration. The next lesson discusses the prerequisites for the course.