How to Choose the Right Host for MS SQL?

How to Choose the Right Host for MS SQL?

As is known to all, MS SQL hosting requires Windows server platform when people choose it to create websites. However, it causes that MS SQL hosting price is much higher than the price of MySQL hosting that can build on the Linux servers. That’s why many people have to give up expensive MS SQL hosting.

Compare MS SQL Hosting

Most hosts do not support MS SQL. In a sense, this makes finding a host easier because there aren’t as many of them. But you still want to get the best host for your purposes. This is what this article is for: to help you choose the right host.

What Is MS SQL?

MS SQL is Microsoft’s database management application, built using the Structured Query Language (SQL). This versatile, powerful application enables you to create, manage and access databases on both local and remote machines to serve multimedia content, organize customer information, and create personalized content for visitors to your site.

Whether your hosting provider offers Linux-based or Windows-driven servers, chances are you’re going to need access to a database management program built around the Structured Query Language (SQL). Creating and managing databases is an essential part of many Web applications, including e-commerce, interactive games, and content management systems (CMS) like WordPress. SQL isn’t generally a primary factor in choosing a host, but it can be an important factor in the specific plan you select.

Windows Servers

For Windows-driven servers, the most popular SQL solution is MS SQL (also known as “SQL Server”), Microsoft’s proprietary database management application.

Designed and optimized to work seamlessly with the company’s .NET framework and ASP.NET (in this context, “ASP” stands for Active Server Pages, Microsoft’s script engine for designing dynamic Web content), MS SQL is a key part of application development for Windows environments.

It also boasts very high compatibility with Web 2.0 solutions from industry leaders like HP, Dell, and SAP. And like other SQL applications, MS SQL also provides enhanced security for databases; an important feature when you are transporting sensitive data like customer credit card numbers or activation codes.

Microsoft Support

Unlike open-source solutions, MS SQL is backed by the extensive Microsoft support system, and its power and standardization have made it a leader in enterprise-level database management and application development.

Whether you’re building a blog or supporting a fully-featured online storefront, if your site and staff require support for Windows and Windows-based applications, MS SQL may be your best bet.

One caveat: the software is not free, and may require the purchase of a license, although many providers include both support and licensing for MS SQL in their Windows hosting plans.

Add in the fact that Windows hosting remains slightly more expensive than Linux-based hosting, and you could find yourself paying moderately more than you would for a comparable level of hosting on a Linux server. Double-check with your host for full details.

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL) is likely the database you’ll use if you choose Windows web hosting.

MS SQL uses the same Structured Query Language (SQL) that alternative solutions, such as MySQL, also use. Switching between the two is simple providing you have a reasonable command of Windows server management.

How is MS SQL Used?

Microsoft SQL Server has been in development since 1989 when it was released for the OS/2 operating system.

OS/2 and MS SQL

OS/2 was developed by IBM and Microsoft in tandem at first, and IBM eventually took it over. Later, Microsoft purchased the SQL Server solution from Sybase and continued to develop it for its own product family, starting from Windows NT onwards.

MS SQL Evolution

SQL Server has been continually evolving for almost a decade. The 2005 version of SQL Server was notable for supporting eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and Common Language Runtime (CLR), allowing MS SQL Server to integrate with Microsoft’s .NET framework and greatly expanding its potential audience.

The 2005 version also included SQL Server Management Studio, a graphical tool which made management much easier. Media support was added in the 2008 release, and this was critical for its use on the web.

MS SQL Versions

MS SQL exists in several versions concurrently, so it is never automatically phased out when a new iteration is released. MS SQL can therefore be installed on single-user computers, dedicated servers or entire datacenters, since there is a version suitable for most purposes.

The Enterprise edition of SQL Server 2017 is designed to support massive organizations and can handle database sizes up to 524 petabytes (549,453,824 gigabytes), utilizing all available server memory and physical processors.

Linux Version

SQL Server 2017 is the first version that officially works under Linux. It can run in Docker containers, allowing its use in self-contained, containerized installations.

A “container” is similar to a virtual machine but more lightweight. All versions use the same code base, so there should be few compatibility problems between operating systems. SQL Servers 2016 and 2017 add numerous security features.

SQL Server Express

SQL Server Express is a limited version that’s available for free.

Microsoft doesn’t license it for shared hosting, but it can work with dedicated or virtual private servers that have limited database requirements.

It’s often embedded into applications. It’s not a good choice when multiple processes need to access the database.

The Microsoft Access database is strictly for desktop use, and you aren’t likely to find it on a hosting service.