December 24, 2011 at 5:57 am
I have some pretty old hardware and am still waiting for Santa to drop me an i7 Extreme, 12GB RAM laptop down the chimney so I can use all the latest Microsoft apps.
I am continuing to use 2005. Is this a problem as I'm not sure if most commercial organisations are now using 2008?
I may have a chance to go on a training course which uses 2005. Is this a problem if I am looking for a job using SQL Server, or will I be at a disadvantage not learning 2008 now?
December 24, 2011 at 6:55 am
Let me just say this:
SQL 2012 is expected first half of next year. When that comes out, SQL 2005 will be 3 major versions old, it's heading for end of support. I would at least suggest you become familiar with the newer features.
I have several clients on 2005 still, but most are considering upgrades, either to 2008 R2 or to 2012.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
December 24, 2011 at 8:33 am
Thanks for the additional info. I'm really going to think about this. Strangely, I am finding SQL 2005 easier to learn than 2008, although this may be more to do with the books and documents that I have come across than anything else. Perhaps it is also the fact that it was the first SQL Server database I practised on and thefore just got used to it...
In addition I am looking at a special offer by Learning Tree which is a comprehensive introduction, but I am not sure how their courses compare to anything else on the market and how they compare to what Microsoft could offer...
December 25, 2011 at 5:00 am
I have some pretty old hardware and am still waiting for Santa to drop me an i7 Extreme, 12GB RAM laptop down the chimney so I can use all the latest Microsoft apps.
Are you a BAD boy / girl? 😀 Else you would have get one 😉
I may have a chance to go on a training course which uses 2005. Is this a problem if I am looking for a job using SQL Server, or will I be at a disadvantage not learning 2008 now?
It’s applicable to all fields of knowledge but it’s more applicable to IT professionals to keep their knowledge up-to-date with latest trends & skills.
I agree with Gail and would suggest you to focus on SQL Server 2008 (at the minimum). On the same time I would suggest you not to disappoint because Version Upgrades doesn’t change the Overall Behaviour or Functionalities. SQL Server 2005 & 2008 have ~80% similarities & ~20% new features.
Strangely, I am finding SQL 2005 easier to learn than 2008, although this may be more to do with the books and documents that I have come across than anything else. Perhaps it is also the fact that it was the first SQL Server database I practised on and thefore just got used to it...
The more you will practice on SQL Server 2008 you will be familiar with its UI & commands. It may take some time.
Best Wishes for your SQL Learning & Christmas! 🙂
December 25, 2011 at 8:52 am
Thanks for all this advice about 2005 vs 2008 and keeping up to date with things, which I will keep in mind when looking at a course. I have decided to try and invest something in my training rather than constantly going it alone...
Hope you have a good Christmas. For my part, it looks as though Santa must have dropped that i7 down the wrong chimney...:w00t:
January 3, 2012 at 4:58 am
If you are putting your own money into training, a TechNet subscription is a good use for some of that cash.
TechNet gives you all Microsoft operating systems and Server software, so you can experiment with installing SQL 2005 Express on XP through to installing SQL 2012 Data Center on a W2008 R2 Enterprise cluster. This costs about GBP £230 in year 1 and about £200 to renew.
My experience in building multiple environments is to get as much memory and disk drives as you can. You can run 1 guest on a 4GB machine, but you need at least 8GB to run a 2-node cluster. If you can get 16GB then go for it. I tend to run each guest from its own disk, as any form of disk sharing using low-end kit leaves the guests running slowly. I tend to buy 1TB disks as they are cheap and Hyper-V snapshots can take up lot of space, but this will change when 500GB SSD drives drop below the GBP 100 mark.
Original author: https://github.com/SQL-FineBuild/Common/wiki/ 1-click install and best practice configuration of SQL Server 2019, 2017 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008 and 2005.
When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor they call me a communist - Archbishop Hélder Câmara
January 4, 2012 at 4:33 am
Thanks. I will think about Technet, however I have had quite a lot of spending recently getting a new laptop (i5, 4GB RAM - which is about my limit for now and much better than the Pentium III I was on...). I am thinking of just buying 2008 R2 Developer:
which I think works on Windows 7 HP. I would also like to get the full functionality of SSRS, SSIS etc., so am not sure if this is included in the package.
This may also be the right choice should I eventually decide to take Microsoft exams, even though they are based on 2008?
January 4, 2012 at 4:55 am
Developer Edition includes all the features of Enterprise Edition, but is not licensed for use on a Production service. If it is all that you can afford then it is an excellent tool to learn more about SQL Server.
If you want to learn about SSIS or DAX or just about any other major component of SQL Server, then a very good resource is http://www.sqlservercentral.com/stairway/, which has modules on each of these.
Original author: https://github.com/SQL-FineBuild/Common/wiki/ 1-click install and best practice configuration of SQL Server 2019, 2017 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008 and 2005.
When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor they call me a communist - Archbishop Hélder Câmara
January 4, 2012 at 5:37 am
Many thanks for the link.
I've certainly got a lot to look at here and learning about SQL Server is looking to be the right transition for me after having spent so much time with Access.
January 4, 2012 at 8:01 am
meridius10 (1/4/2012)
Thanks. I will think about Technet, however I have had quite a lot of spending recently getting a new laptop (i5, 4GB RAM - which is about my limit for now and much better than the Pentium III I was on...). I am thinking of just buying 2008 R2 Developer:which I think works on Windows 7 HP. I would also like to get the full functionality of SSRS, SSIS etc., so am not sure if this is included in the package.
This may also be the right choice should I eventually decide to take Microsoft exams, even though they are based on 2008?
I don’t see any harm in using EVAL edition for few months. In this way you can push the purchase of DEV edition for some time but DEV license is not much expensive so it’s your choice.
January 4, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Is it easy to upgrade from the evaluation edition of 2008 R2 to the developer edition? i.e. is this a seamless transition?
My experience with having 2005 and 2008 on the same operating system wasn't good, so I wouldn't want to go through a repeat performance of reinstalling Windows again!
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