What is SQL Server...?

Question

Greetings everyone,

I am a supply chain analyst and I was wondering if someone can explain to me in simple terms what SQL Server is? My company is large retail chain and doesn't use SQL Server specifically, we use SAP (although I appreciate they're not the same thing and many companies use both!) So I was wondering if someone could also explain how SAP and SQL Server might work together in the same organisation? The reason for my question is that I have noticed that many other similar jobs to mine do require people who know SQL Server.

I may have to move jobs soon, so I don't want to find myself at a disadvantage to other candidates who know how to use this system. I was wondering if there is a 'home version' I could download or buy that would enable me to learn it in my own time? Does anyone know of any (preferably free) online courses or training videos I could watch?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Pete

Answer 1

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: it is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network (including the Internet). There are at least a dozen different editions of Microsoft SQL Server aimed at different audiences and for different workloads (ranging from small applications that store and retrieve data on the same computer, to millions of users and computers that access huge amounts of data from the Internet at the same time).

Answer 2

SQL Server is a database/datastore to put your corporate data. Sql Server is Microsoft's version of a database. There are other databases out there like Oracle, MySql, and DB2 to name the ones I'm most familiar with.



While SAP isn't a database, it is an accounting system, it does have a database somewhere in it's infrastructure and that database could be SQL Server or Oracle. The database is where the accounting information is ultimately stored and then retrieved.



In companies that run SAP, there are usually other databases in the company including SQL Server and Oracle databases. Knowing "SQL" is probably more important than specifically knowing SQL Server or Oracle. As an analyst, you will often need to retrieve data from the database and SQL is the language for that.



Microsoft SQL Server has an express edition that is free to download and practice on. I also put some free videos together on the basics of the SQL language and you can get those by visiting http://www.sqltrainingonline.com/.

Answer 3

SAP requires additional software to operate, one of them is the Operating System (Windows, Linux) and other is a Database Engine, such as Oracle or SQL Server.

You can learn about SQL Server here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/sqlserver/ff398089 . There are many tutorials (like http://www.blackwasp.co.uk/SQLProgrammingFundamentals.aspx) too, just Google "sql server tutorial".

For practice, you may download SQL Server Express for free here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29062

Answer 4

SQL Server is one example of a database management system (DBMS)...others include Oracle, MySQL and Access. Its primary purpose is to interact with a relational database using SQL (Structured Query Language). However, the top-end DBMS such as SQL Server and Oracle also contain many additional features such as a developer GUI interface, forms and reports builders for a more user-friendly end user interface and a programming scripting language for building more complex and sophisticated applications.



SAP, otoh, is a collection of (primarily HR-related) applications for carrying out tasks such as payroll, accounts payable/receivable, time- and cost-accounting etc.

Answer 5

SQL is "standard query language" which is implemented by many different servers.

E.g. Oracle, Microsft, MySQL



You can get MySQL for free (standard in Linux distributions), also sqlite that uses SQL commands on a file, not a server



Lots of stuff online - google SQL tutorial

Answer 6

SQL Server is a relational database management system that is capable of handling large amount of data apart from providing several methods to ensure data integrity, it also provides advance administrative utilities. It renders complete data integrity protection and advanced security to objects