Is SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express the same as Standard? - sql-server-2008-express

A while back, I installed SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services, which installed SQL Server 2008 Management Studio (SSMS) Express as well. Now that we have SQL 2008 Standard on the network some months later, I want to confirm that I don't have to reinstall SSMS 2008 on my desktop. This blog post I found seems to suggest that I'm fine with the version of SSMS that came with SQL Express:
http://weblogs.asp.net/markwisecarver/archive/2008/09/02/sql-server-2008-management-tools-basic-vs-complete.aspx
...but I want to confirm. Unfortunately, the About dialog doesn't give details about an Express vs. a "Full" version of the tool. Anyone know?
Thanks.

They are different. SSMS Express appears to be somewhat of a hybrid of several standard SQL 2008 applications, each paired down to some extent and packaged together. Read more here. You can get more details on SSMSE here. If I were you I would install the full set of tools from the standard addition.

No, they are different. The Express edition of SSMS will work just fine with any higher edition of SQL Server, but it lacks some more advanced features (like the replication designers, etc.) of the higher-end editions.

Related

Will SQL Server Express work with a database made in regular SQL Server?

I was wondering if we could backup the database that we currently host on regular SQL Server, and put it onto our clients computer when we setup SQL Server Express for them.
Is this possible?
Thanks,
Matt
Yes, it's possible to restore a database backup from the Standard edition to the Express edition. It's not possible to restore a SQL Server 2008 to a SQL Server 2005 version, though.
However, there a some minor differences between versions. I've noticed an issue in SQL Server Express 2005 when calling .NET SQL CLR functions across databases, so your mileage may vary. I haven't been able to find a good overview of the exact differences between the various SQL Server editions.
It's always best to keep the development platform as close as possible to the release platform. I can only recommend that you use the Express edition of SQL Server for development as well; and re-test your application.

SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 Coexisting in Windows 7 machine

Some SQL Server 2005 and 2008 questions.
1) Can they coexist on the same Windows 7 machine without issues?
2) Can you attach and run 2005 databases to SQL Server 2008 without compatibility issues or is this a no go?
3) Does SQL Server 2005 even work on Windows 7?
Yes, both can coexist on the same machine without issues.
Yes, however, once you attach a 2005 database into a 2008 instance, you have upgraded it to 2008 never to go back to 2005 unless you export the data into some universal format. You can however, have both engines running simultaneously and can use either set of management tools to see either database (although some features will only work with the 2008 management studio working against the 2008 database)
Yes. Both sets of tools (including Management Studio) and services can coexist on the same machine (I have this very setup). The only thing you cannot do is to have both engines listening on the same port. Thus, one of the two will have to be a named instance.
1) Yes.
2) You can view 2005 database under 2008 management studio, not sure about hosting them under a 2008 instance though. I'm fairly confident they do, but not sure if it's native or via converting to a 2008 database.
3) Yes.
Note that you can't have 2005 MS and 2008 MS (management studio) installed on the same OS. This was based on my experience a long while ago when 2008 first came out, I got an error message stating that I couldn't install it because of a previous version (2005) being installed, or something akin to that. Turns out it has changed.

Need a good SQL Server Management GUI Tool?

Is there any options as a GUI to manage Microsoft SQL Server 2005 express except Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express.
Winxp used. Thanks.
SQuirreL
For full control then only SSMS will do because it will use SMO etc to do stuff that other non-MS tools won't. Or expensive 3rd party tools.

Can SQL Server Management Studio 2005 work with SQL Server Express 2008?

I'm getting crazy trying to install SQL Server Express Management Studio 2008
Pb for installing SQL Server Express Management Studio 2008
I have tried 10 times, now I give up. But maybe I can try to work with SQL Server Management Studio 2005? Do you know if it will work?
No, you can use the full SQL Server 2008 Management Studio (included in SQL Server 2008 editions other than Express), and it can connect to SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 Express, and any of the 2005 (and even 2000) versions, but it doesn't work the other way around, sorry.
No, as far as I know it doesn't. You will get a message that says it will work with only SQL Server 2005 or later.
No, you cannot use the 2005 SSMS UI against 2008. Maybe in your other thread you can show the log details that explains WHY Management Studio won't install. Many, many people are able to use this tool without issue, so maybe if you want help in figuring out why you can't, you can provide more details...

Can SQL Server Express be used to effectively administrate a SQL Server Standard/Enterprise installation?

We have a number of MS SQL Server 2005 installations (both Standard and Enterprise editions) on our webservers. From time to time I need to administrate them from home. Right now I'm using Remote Desktop to connect to my work machine, but I'd prefer to install SQL Server Management Studio on my home machine so that I can work more efficiently. I don't have a spare license, so I was wondering... if I installed MS SQL Server 2005 Express on my home machine, could I use it to effectively administrate the higher-end installations on our servers?
See this question:
What's the difference between SQL Server Management Studio and the Express edition?
Also, if you have any trouble doing anything from Managment Studio Express, there are third-party tools out there that have no trouble connecting to SQL Server.
Personally, I've noticed a few things missing out of the box:
Import/Export
Activity Monitor
Job monitor
However, the question I linked to indicated you may be able to restore most of that for use when you connect to a full sql server edition.
If you do a client tools only install of the standard edition (ie. just SSMS) and don't install the database, agent, etc. then I'm pretty sure you don't need another license and won't be violating the EULA. If you want a full install the SQL Server developer edition is only $49 and comes with everything.
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/developer.aspx
I'm not sure if you can create backup schedules and maintenance plans in Management Studio Express.