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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Databases
  4. Databases
  5. MSSQL vs Microsoft SQL Server

MSSQL vs Microsoft SQL Server

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Stacks21.3K
Followers15.5K
Votes540
MSSQL
MSSQL
Stacks1.0K
Followers417
Votes3

MSSQL vs Microsoft SQL Server: What are the differences?

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between MSSQL and Microsoft SQL Server. While MSSQL is often used as a shorthand term for Microsoft SQL Server, there are certain distinctions between the two that are worth noting.

  1. Database Management System: MSSQL is a database management system developed by Microsoft. On the other hand, Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) also developed by Microsoft.

  2. Versions and Editions: MSSQL is commonly used to refer to the older versions of Microsoft SQL Server, such as SQL Server 6.5, SQL Server 7.0, and SQL Server 2000. On the contrary, Microsoft SQL Server encompasses all the newer versions and editions, including SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, SQL Server 2019, and more.

  3. Features and Functionality: Microsoft SQL Server, being the more recent and comprehensive system, offers a wider range of features and functionality compared to MSSQL. It includes advanced capabilities for data integration, analysis, business intelligence, and reporting, among others.

  4. Scalability and Performance: While MSSQL provides decent scalability and performance, Microsoft SQL Server has been continuously improved over the years to offer enhanced scalability and performance optimization. It introduces various techniques, such as indexing strategies and query optimizer enhancements, to deliver better database performance.

  5. Maintenance and Support: Due to its legacy nature, MSSQL may have limited maintenance and support options available. In contrast, Microsoft SQL Server benefits from ongoing support and regular updates provided by Microsoft. This ensures that users have access to bug fixes, security patches, and new features, making it a more robust and supported option.

  6. Licensing and Pricing: MSSQL, being the older version, may have different licensing models and pricing structures compared to the more updated Microsoft SQL Server. It is important to consider these differences based on your specific requirements and budget.

In summary, MSSQL is a term often used to refer to the older versions of Microsoft SQL Server, while Microsoft SQL Server encompasses all the newer versions with enhanced features, scalability, and support.

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Advice on Microsoft SQL Server, MSSQL

Kyle
Kyle

Web Application Developer at Redacted DevWorks

Dec 3, 2019

DecidedonPostGISPostGIS

While there's been some very clever techniques that has allowed non-natively supported geo querying to be performed, it is incredibly slow in the long game and error prone at best.

MySQL finally introduced it's own GEO functions and special indexing operations for GIS type data. I prototyped with this, as MySQL is the most familiar database to me. But no matter what I did with it, how much tuning i'd give it, how much I played with it, the results would come back inconsistent.

It was very disappointing.

I figured, at this point, that SQL Server, being an enterprise solution authored by one of the biggest worldwide software developers in the world, Microsoft, might contain some decent GIS in it.

I was very disappointed.

Postgres is a Database solution i'm still getting familiar with, but I noticed it had no built in support for GIS. So I hilariously didn't pay it too much attention. That was until I stumbled upon PostGIS and my world changed forever.

449k views449k
Comments
Erin
Erin

IT Specialist

Mar 10, 2020

Needs adviceonMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL ServerMySQLMySQLPostgreSQLPostgreSQL

I am a Microsoft SQL Server programmer who is a bit out of practice. I have been asked to assist on a new project. The overall purpose is to organize a large number of recordings so that they can be searched. I have an enormous music library but my songs are several hours long. I need to include things like time, date and location of the recording. I don't have a problem with the general database design. I have two primary questions:

  1. I need to use either @{MySQL}|tool:1025| or @{PostgreSQL}|tool:1028| on a @{Linux}|tool:10483| based OS. Which would be better for this application?
  2. I have not dealt with a sound based data type before. How do I store that and put it in a table? Thank you.
668k views668k
Comments
Sdev
Sdev

Jun 12, 2020

Needs adviceonMSSQLMSSQLMySQLMySQL

We are planning to migrate one of my applications from MSSQL to MySQL. Can someone help me with the version to select?. I have a strong inclination towards MySql 5.7. But, I see there are some standout features added in Mysql 8.0 like JSON_TABLE. Just wanted to know if the newer version has not compromised on its speed while giving out some add on features.

424k views424k
Comments

Detailed Comparison

Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
MSSQL
MSSQL

Microsoft® SQL Server is a database management and analysis system for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.

It is capable of storing any type of data that you want. It will let you quickly store and retrieve information and multiple web site visitors can use it at one time.

-
Resumable online index rebuild; SQL Server machine learning services; Query processing improvements; Automatic database tuning; TempDB file size improvements; Smart differential backup; Smart transaction log backup.
Statistics
Stacks
21.3K
Stacks
1.0K
Followers
15.5K
Followers
417
Votes
540
Votes
3
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 139
    Reliable and easy to use
  • 101
    High performance
  • 95
    Great with .net
  • 65
    Works well with .net
  • 56
    Easy to maintain
Cons
  • 4
    Expensive Licensing
  • 2
    Microsoft
  • 1
    Replication can loose the data
  • 1
    Allwayon can loose data in asycronious mode
  • 1
    Data pages is only 8k
Pros
  • 3
    Easy of use
Cons
  • 1
    Vendor lock-in
  • 1
    License Cost
Integrations
No integrations available
MySQL
MySQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
Oracle
Oracle
SQLite
SQLite

What are some alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server, MSSQL?

MongoDB

MongoDB

MongoDB stores data in JSON-like documents that can vary in structure, offering a dynamic, flexible schema. MongoDB was also designed for high availability and scalability, with built-in replication and auto-sharding.

MySQL

MySQL

The MySQL software delivers a very fast, multi-threaded, multi-user, and robust SQL (Structured Query Language) database server. MySQL Server is intended for mission-critical, heavy-load production systems as well as for embedding into mass-deployed software.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an advanced object-relational database management system that supports an extended subset of the SQL standard, including transactions, foreign keys, subqueries, triggers, user-defined types and functions.

SQLite

SQLite

SQLite is an embedded SQL database engine. Unlike most other SQL databases, SQLite does not have a separate server process. SQLite reads and writes directly to ordinary disk files. A complete SQL database with multiple tables, indices, triggers, and views, is contained in a single disk file.

Cassandra

Cassandra

Partitioning means that Cassandra can distribute your data across multiple machines in an application-transparent matter. Cassandra will automatically repartition as machines are added and removed from the cluster. Row store means that like relational databases, Cassandra organizes data by rows and columns. The Cassandra Query Language (CQL) is a close relative of SQL.

Memcached

Memcached

Memcached is an in-memory key-value store for small chunks of arbitrary data (strings, objects) from results of database calls, API calls, or page rendering.

MariaDB

MariaDB

Started by core members of the original MySQL team, MariaDB actively works with outside developers to deliver the most featureful, stable, and sanely licensed open SQL server in the industry. MariaDB is designed as a drop-in replacement of MySQL(R) with more features, new storage engines, fewer bugs, and better performance.

RethinkDB

RethinkDB

RethinkDB is built to store JSON documents, and scale to multiple machines with very little effort. It has a pleasant query language that supports really useful queries like table joins and group by, and is easy to setup and learn.

ArangoDB

ArangoDB

A distributed free and open-source database with a flexible data model for documents, graphs, and key-values. Build high performance applications using a convenient SQL-like query language or JavaScript extensions.

InfluxDB

InfluxDB

InfluxDB is a scalable datastore for metrics, events, and real-time analytics. It has a built-in HTTP API so you don't have to write any server side code to get up and running. InfluxDB is designed to be scalable, simple to install and manage, and fast to get data in and out.

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