General

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Home
• Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - February 2007
• How to identify your SQL Server version and edition

  SQL Server 2008 RTM 10.0.1600
  SQL Server 2008 SP1 10.0.2531
  
  SQL Server 2005 RTM 9.0.1399
  SQL Server 2005 SP1 9.0.2047 
  SQL Server 2005 SP2 9.0.3042 
  SQL Server 2005 SP3 9.0.4035
  
  SQL Server 2000 RTM 2000.80.194.0 
  SQL Server 2000 SP1 2000.80.384.0 
  SQL Server 2000 SP2 2000.80.534.0 
  SQL Server 2000 SP3 2000.80.760.0 
  SQL Server 2000 SP3a 2000.80.760.0 
  SQL Server 2000 SP4 2000.8.00.2039 
  

• MSDE 2000 Release A
  Free version of SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine
• Finding and Fixing Slammer Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005 brief introduction
• Download SQL Server Express
• Error "Performance Monitor Counter Requirement" when installing SQL 2005 Express SP2
  
  Product: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition -- Error 29528. The setup has encountered an unexpected error while Installing performance counters. The error is: The configuration registry key is invalid.
  1. Make sure the Last Counter and Last Help values are in-sync
  2. Try to run: lodctr /R:PerfStringBackup.INI to restore the backup copy of the Performance Counter Names list
     Maybe due to an old SQL Server setup added some counter names remain at performance counter that corrupt the newer setup process

• Login CLI with current user: osql -E
• How to manage the SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) or SQL Server 2005 Express Edition by using the osql utility
  • Check existing db: SELECT name, filename FROM sysdatabases
  • Backup db: BACKUP DATABASE dbname TO DISK = 'c:\backup\dbname.bak'
  • Restore db: RESTORE DATABASE dbname FROM DISK = 'c:\backup\dbname.bak'
    Need the database not active, else: Exclusive access could not be obtained because the database is in use.
  • Remove all users to the db: ALTER DATABASE dbname SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE

• MSDN: Working with User Instances
• Enable when install, or run:

  exec sp_configure 'user instances enabled', 1
  Reconfigure
  

• SQL Server 2005 Samples and Sample Databases (February 2007)
• SQl Server Samples Blog

General

• SQL Server Reporting Service Homepage
• TechNet Reporting Services Home
• MSDN Reporting Services Home

Development

• Dynamic Connection Strings in Reporting Services 2005
• MSDN Forums thread on Dynamic data source name

• Introduction Guided Tours

• TechNet: SQL Server Mirroring
• SQL2008: Synchronous Database Mirroring (High-Safety Mode)
• Setup Database Mirroring without join into a domain
  • Use certificates for servers authentication
    Will have problem of certificate created with an invalid date value
  • Detail CLI config of database mirroring in SQL 2005 (same domain)
  • Another example of connecting two standalone SQL Server 2005 DB in a mirroring setup
  • SQL Server 2005 Encryption - Certificates 101
• SQL SERVER – Database Mirroring. Error: 1475, Error: 1478, Error: 1412.
  At the Mirror server, need to restore a Full backup as well as a Log backup with NO RECOVERY option
• Manual Failover Mirrored Database at a Standby Server
  • ALTER DATABASE [dbname] SET PARTNER FORCE_SERVICE_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS
  • SQL2008: Forced Service (with Possible Data Loss)
  • SQL2005: Forced Service (with Possible Data Loss)

• Install SQL Server 2000 before SP2 to Windows Server 2003
  • Ignore the warning, install SQL Server database engine / analysis service first
• Required to setup strong password in SQL Server SP3:
  • 814463 - HOWTO Specify a Strong SA Password When You Install SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000)
  • 810826 - INF New Switches in MSDE Service Pack 3 Setup
    SETUP.EXE SAPWD=(password)