If your applications require a more complex storage solution than directly reading and writing to a file, consider one of the editions of SQL Server. The links below describe the editions and how to install them. Other links describe simple database administration tasks that may be just enough to serve your current needs.
If you are not sure which features you need and want to begin developing with SQL Server immediately, you can start by installing SQL Server Express. This is a free edition that can be seamlessly upgraded to other editions if you discover that you need more features. If you are unfamiliar with SQL Server Express, or databases in general, a series of video tutorials on beginning development with SQL Server Express can be found at SQL Videos: SQL Server 2005 Express for Beginners on ASP.net. There is also a recently launched blog and video series that focuses on the new SQL Server user at http://learningsqlserver.wordpress.com/.
SQL Server is a RDBMS that provides a dedicated, robust storage solution that you can easily incorporate into your application. If you start out with the Express edition, you may later want to move to a more powerful storage solution that includes structured storage, fast search and retrieve, transactional reads and writes, as well as specialized functionality such as report generation, data analysis, or support for specialized data types such as geographic data.
Before you install SQL Server, make sure you understand the features your application needs. Some SQL Server features are available only with specific editions. You may also need other software, like language-specific SQL Server drivers.
In SQL Server 2008, you can perform a basic installation of the Express edition using the Web Platform Installer (WPI). (For more information, see the Web Platform Installer Microsoft site.) This method requires minimal user input, detects and installs any missing prerequisites, and allows you to install additional components such as Internet Information Services (IIS).
To install SQL Server Express using WPI, launch the Web Platform Installer and select the Database option from the Web Platform tab. You can install additional options such as the Management Studio or the SQL Server Driver for PHP by selecting Customize.
The following external pages give overviews of SQL Server database administration.
If you are familiar with Windows PowerShell, the following external articles briefly discuss using PowerShell to work with SQL Server 2008.
This article is also available in the following languages:
Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 41. Comment: Adding tags
Richard Mueller edited Revision 39. Comment: Added the links that where referenced in the headings to the See Also section
Richard Mueller edited Revision 38. Comment: Fix headings in HTML so TOC doesn't link to other articles instead of headings
Richard Mueller edited Revision 37. Comment: Fix link to es-ES version
Richard Mueller edited Revision 36. Comment: Fixed some <a name> tags in HTML (removed zeros) so TOC works
yottun8 edited Revision 32. Comment: Added the ja-JP link.
Jewel Lambert edited Revision 31. Comment: corrected spelling typo
Fernando Lugão Veltem edited Revision 30. Comment: added portuguese version
FZB edited Revision 29. Comment: added de-DE Link
FZB edited Revision 28. Comment: typo
Larry Franks edited Original. Comment: Adding links to php and asp.net pages
Larry Franks edited Revision 2. Comment: edits based on feedback. Removing mention of sql 2005 as it's not exactly a "new user" scenario, being our oldest supported edition. Removed link to a list of DBA mistakes that didn't provide context around the mistakes.
Larry Franks edited Revision 4. Comment: updating installation guidance links for Express
Matt Burr MSFT edited Revision 6. Comment: Corrected a typo and added a link from "data analysis" to SQL Server Analysis Services wiki article.
Ed Price MSFT edited Revision 8. Comment: Added two "See Also" links.
Ed Price MSFT edited Revision 10. Comment: Added the "SQL Server Development Wiki Pages" section.
Ed Price MSFT edited Revision 16. Comment: Specified links are external.
JasonRoth edited Revision 17. Comment: Added a sentence that points the new user to the learningsqlserver.wordpress.com blog
Good list of resources for beginner.
Horizon_Net edited Revision 20. Comment: Added toc.
Thanks very much; really it is good starting point with SQL server
Pantelis44999 edited Revision 23. Comment: Format to try to get "SQL Server 2008" on Toc
Luigi Bruno edited Revision 24. Comment: Edited two links in the "SQL Development" section.
Luigi Bruno edited Revision 25. Comment: Edited a link in the "SQL Development" section.
Luigi Bruno edited Revision 26. Comment: Edited article's title and tags list. Added the "Other Languages" section.