Experienced in SQL Server 2000, but no experience in 2005 or 2008!

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Experienced in SQL Server 2000, but no experience in 2005 or 2008!

Wolfmeister

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May 6, 2010 at 6:31 am

#156929

Guys, I am in a bit of a dilemma and would appreciate some advice. I am an experienced SQL Server 2000 developer but unfortunately I have no experience in 2005 or 2008, as the company I currently work for has always used 2000.
Due to possible redundancy at the end of this month, I need to get up to speed quickly with the new features of 2005 / 2008, but where do I start? I am thinking that certification is the best way, as I can bridge any gaps and gain qualifications at the same time.
The question is which exams - should I just concentrate on 2008, or should I work my up from 2000 to 2005 and then 2008? currently I am thinking of taking two exams, starting with 70-431, and then doing 70-433, in that order.
Alternatively if there are any good books that anyone can recommend, that would be appreciated.
Thanks

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

Don't try and write the certs if you have no experience. Get the study guide if you must (they're not all bad, but they're not all good), download the eval version of SQL 2008 and experiment and play with the new features, management tools and changes. That should give you a good start.

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

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

alen teplitsky SSC-Dedicated Points: 30014 More actions · Answer 2

i would do the 2008 exams since they will have a longer life

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736173 More actions · Answer 3

I'm with Gail, start using 2008. What I might do is install the eval/dev editions and then rewrite some of your existing stuff in 2008, using new features. Take advantage of things like CTEs to replace views, or recurse through solutions. Try out Row Number, cross apply, etc. Play with the DMVs, or go through something like this and check them out: DMV a Day

Wolfmeister SSCommitted Points: 1547 More actions · Answer 4

Thanks all for the advice so far. I will download the evaluation version and give that a go.

Gavin Campbell Ten Centuries Points: 1011 More actions · Answer 5

IMV there isn't a great deal of difference between the 2005 and 2008 products*, so when I was in your situation I went for the 2008 certs, even though most of my (limited) post-2000 experience had been with 2005. If you have a few years experience, even with SQL 2000, the exams are pretty easy. After all, not all of the questions are about new features, the "old" questions about joins, built-in functions, etc. are all still there. I wasted quite a bit of preparation time mugging up on the usage of the XML data type, and there were only a couple of questions about it on the test.