Overview

 Since its initial release in 1989, SQL Server has come a long way from its base functionality as an enterprise level database platform.  While the core of SQL Server is still it's database engine, it is now so much more than just a relational database platform.  We now have Analysis Services for online analytical processing, Reporting Services for developing reports, Integration Services for developing and running ETL programs as well as many other tools and services that work with and/or support these core components. 

As long as I have been working with SQL Server, I have had at least some exposure to each of the core SQL Server components, but every so often I come across some new tool or even an old tool that I had not heard about within the SQL Server ecosystem that would have helped me with an issue I was trying to resolve. 

In the following tutorial we will try to go through most of the core components and tools that make up the SQL Server platform and explain what can be done within each of these components. 

Below is an overview of what we will cover:

1. SQL Server Components
   • Core Components
   • Ancillary Services
   • Other tools
2. Feature Set by Software Version and Edition
3. Version Release Dates and Support Timeline
4. Installation Guidelines
5. Licensing Models and Costs
6. Architecture Overview
   • Database
   • Analysis Services
   • Reporting Services
   • Integration Services
7. Tools Available and their Function
8. Querying Data
   • Language
   • Tools
9. Terminology