14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just made available for download a new flavor of its Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express, to help professionals better manage their databases.
Released as a powerful data management system, Microsoft SQL Server Express is available for free and provides a rich and reliable data store for websites that are lightweight, as well as for desktop applications.
The system was developed to provide easy deployment, as well as support for fast prototyping, and it offers support for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2.
The Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express can be installed on 32-bit systems that sport a 1GHz or faster CPU, or on 64-bit systems with a 1.4GHz or faster processor. It requires a minimum of 512 MB of RAM and 2.2 GB of available hard disk space and Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 or 4.0.
The download includes components such as Sysprep, Microsoft's System Preparation Utility for Microsoft Windows operating system deployment.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express arrives with the MSI installer of LocalDB, a “lightweight version of Express that has all its programmability features, yet runs in user mode and has a fast, zero-configuration installation and short list of pre-requisites,” Microsoft explains.
Through it, developers can benefit from a simple way to create and work with databases straight from code. LocalDB can be used with Application and Database Development tools like Visual Studio and can also be embedded in applications requiring local databases.
Also included in the download are:
- Express (Containing only the database engine) - The core Express database server. Use this if you need to accept remote connections or administer remotely.
- Express with Tools (with LocalDB) Includes the database engine and SQL Server Management Studio Express) - This package contains everything needed to install and configure SQL Server as a database server. Choose either LocalDB or Express depending on your needs above.
- SQL Server Management Studio Express (Tools only) - This does not contain the database, but only the tools to manage SQL Server instances, including LocalDB, SQL Express, SQL Azure, etc. Use this if you already have the database and only need the management tools. This package includes LocalDB.
- Express with Advanced Services (contains the database engine, Express Tools, Reporting Services, and Full Text Search) - This package contains all the components of SQL Express. This is a larger download than “with Tools,” as it also includes both Full Text Search and Reporting Services.
You can find additional info on the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express on Microsoft’s website. The latest version of the data management system is available for download from Softpedia via this link.