SQL Server R2

1. Master Data Services (MDS):

   • Introduces Master Data Services, a feature that helps organizations manage their master data (such as customer or product data) in a centralized and consistent manner.

2. PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint:

   • Integration with PowerPivot, a data analysis tool for Excel and SharePoint that allows users to create self-service business intelligence solutions.

3. Report Builder 3.0:

   • Upgrades the report authoring tool with version 3.0, providing enhanced capabilities for designing and building reports.

4. StreamInsight:

   • Introduces StreamInsight, a complex event processing (CEP) platform that enables the analysis of real-time streaming data.

5. SQL Server Utility:

   • SQL Server Utility is a centralized management and monitoring tool that allows administrators to manage and monitor multiple instances of SQL Server from a single location.

6. Enhanced Database Engine:

   • Improvements to the SQL Server Database Engine, including performance enhancements, support for larger databases, and improved security features.

7. Improved Manageability:

   • Enhancements to management tools and features for better monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance tuning.

8. Data-tier Application (DAC) Framework:

   • Introduction of the DAC Framework, allowing for the management and deployment of database applications in a more streamlined manner.

9. Reporting Services Add-in for SharePoint:

   • Enhancements to SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) integration with SharePoint for better reporting capabilities.

10. Enhanced Analysis Services:

    • Improvements to SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) for better data analysis and business intelligence.

11. Multi-Server Management:

    • Improved tools for managing multiple SQL Server instances from a central location.

Before learning SQL Server R2, it's beneficial to have a foundational understanding of certain concepts and skills related to databases, data management, and basic programming. Here are the skills you should have or consider acquiring:

1. Relational Database Concepts:

   • Understanding of fundamental relational database concepts, including tables, records (rows), fields (columns), relationships, and normalization.

2. SQL (Structured Query Language):

   • Proficiency in SQL, as SQL Server is a relational database management system that uses SQL for querying and manipulating data. Knowledge of basic SQL commands (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) is essential.

3. Database Design:

   • Basic knowledge of database design principles, including designing tables, defining relationships, and normalization.

4. Data Modeling:

   • Understanding of data modeling concepts and tools, such as Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERD), to represent and plan database structures.

5. Basic Programming Skills:

   • Familiarity with basic programming concepts can be helpful, as SQL Server R2 supports the development of stored procedures, triggers, and functions using T-SQL (Transact-SQL).

6. Understanding of Windows Environment:

   • Since SQL Server typically runs on Windows servers, a basic understanding of the Windows operating system and file system can be beneficial.

7. Server Management Basics:

   • Familiarity with server management concepts, including installing software, configuring server settings, and basic server administration tasks.

8. Data Types and Constraints:

   • Knowledge of SQL data types and constraints, such as primary keys, foreign keys, and unique constraints.

9. Data Manipulation and Retrieval:

   • Ability to manipulate and retrieve data using SQL commands. Understanding how to filter, sort, and aggregate data is essential.

10. Basic Understanding of Networking:

    • Awareness of basic networking concepts, as SQL Server instances may be accessed over a network. Knowledge of IP addresses, ports, and connectivity can be useful.

11. Security Fundamentals:

    • Basic understanding of security concepts, including user authentication, authorization, and securing data in a database.

12. Client-Server Architecture:

    • Understanding the client-server architecture and how applications interact with a SQL Server database.

13. Backup and Restore Procedures:

    • Knowledge of basic backup and restore procedures to ensure data integrity and disaster recovery.

14. Troubleshooting Skills:

    • Basic troubleshooting skills to identify and resolve common issues related to SQL Server.

Learning SQL Server R2 involves gaining proficiency in various areas related to database management and development using Microsoft's relational database management system. Here are the skills you gain by learning SQL Server R2:

1. Transact-SQL (T-SQL) Proficiency:

   • Mastery of T-SQL, the SQL Server query language, for tasks such as data retrieval, data manipulation, and database administration.

2. Database Design and Modeling:

   • Skills in designing and modeling databases, including creating tables, defining relationships, and normalizing data to ensure efficient storage and retrieval.

3. Stored Procedures and Functions:

   • Ability to create and manage stored procedures and functions to encapsulate logic and enhance the reusability of code.

4. Triggers and Views:

   • Understanding and implementation of triggers to execute actions in response to specific events and views to simplify complex queries.

5. Indexing Strategies:

   • Knowledge of indexing to optimize query performance by creating appropriate indexes on tables.

6. Data Management and Manipulation:

   • Proficiency in data manipulation tasks, such as inserting, updating, and deleting records, as well as managing transactions.

7. Security and Permissions:

   • Understanding of SQL Server security concepts, including user authentication, authorization, and the management of permissions at various levels.

8. Backup and Restore Procedures:

   • Skills in creating and executing backup and restore procedures to safeguard data and ensure business continuity.

9. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

   • Proficient use of SSMS for managing and administering SQL Server instances, databases, and objects.

10. Performance Tuning and Optimization:

    • Ability to identify and address performance issues, including optimizing queries, analyzing execution plans, and monitoring server resources.

11. Integration Services (SSIS):

    • Knowledge of SSIS for designing and managing ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes for data integration and workflow automation.

12. Reporting Services (SSRS):

    • Skills in using SSRS for designing, deploying, and managing reports, enabling data visualization and business intelligence.

13. Analysis Services (SSAS):

    • Familiarity with SSAS for creating and managing multidimensional and tabular data models, supporting advanced analytics.

14. Database Maintenance and Jobs:

    • Understanding of database maintenance tasks, scheduling jobs, and monitoring job execution for routine administrative tasks.

15. Database Mirroring and High Availability:

    • Knowledge of high availability features such as database mirroring to ensure data availability and minimize downtime.

16. Data-tier Applications (DAC):

    • Awareness of creating and managing DACs for packaging and deploying database applications.

17. Troubleshooting Skills:

    • Ability to troubleshoot common issues related to SQL Server performance, connectivity, and functionality.

18. Collaboration and Integration:

    • Skills in collaborating with other Microsoft technologies and integrating SQL Server with applications and services in the Microsoft ecosystem.