Learning SQL Server

[TonyEnglish]

I have a copy of SQL server at home which I want to install so that I can start learning it. What is the best setup to have in terms of boxes and OS installed? My main PC is fairly well specced (4gb fast ram 2tb of storage) and is currently running Vista, but given the disk space I could dual boot it if required. The book I bought suggested using a virtual PC - I have virtual server 2005 also plus various copies of windows server OS.

[Spacecadet]

no need for the Virtual PC - adds an extra layer of complexity and unless you're planning to go into DBA roles then unnesseccary IMHO.

Install it straight onto the OS, you can install more than one instance if you want multiple database environments.

[VectraMan]

One good thing about using Virtual PC is you can close it down and abandon all changes to the virtual disk. Pretty handy when you're experimenting with something and screw it up completely.

Never tried with SQL server though.

[London75]

What are you trying to "learn". It's not relevant to the spec as it's fine.

Development, DBA or Reporting?

[Bob Dalek]

Originally Posted by Spacecadet

no need for the Virtual PC - adds an extra layer of complexity and unless you're planning to go into DBA roles then unnesseccary IMHO.

Install it straight onto the OS, you can install more than one instance if you want multiple database environments.

As an Oracle bod, I naturally abhore SQL Server. That said, I think if you want to learn it properly, you need Windows Server, or whatever it's called - so maybe VMware/whatever would be the way forward, after all.

Windows Server is free to download and use for (I think) 90 days. I recommend CBT Nuggets CD-ROM courses. I trained myself in SQL Server for about £50 using their stuff & a couple of books.

[thunderlizard]

I did a similar thing a couple of years ago and my PC's still got various bits of SQL Server on it that I couldn't get rid of - so maybe VPC for that reason.

[voodooflux]

Another vote for using a VPC here - if you end up trashing things as you learn then you can just start over again.

You can grab a pre-configured SQL Server 2005 VPC image from Microsoft that'll work for 30 days.

[thunderlizard]

Nice link. And if it's a proper self-contained image you'll be able to run another one once the 30 days are up. So as long as you can learn enough to do a full db export in 30 days, you're sorted!

[voodooflux]

Originally Posted by thunderlizard

Nice link. And if it's a proper self-contained image you'll be able to run another one once the 30 days are up. So as long as you can learn enough to do a full db export in 30 days, you're sorted!

Good point - learn that first!

[Ardesco]

VMWare ESXi is free, although you need a spare box to run it:

https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/log...FQ-mQwodSzC9XQ

I'm impressed with it, you can build yourself a whole domain if you want to so that you can simulate all sorts of real world situations. Well worth a punt at the price