Executive Summary

SQL Server 2005 delivers improvements for both corporate database management and database application development. Enhancements include new management tools and features; support for database logic development in C# or VB.NET programming languages; and scalability, performance, and availability improvements in SQL Server’s high-end edition. Overall, SQL Server 2005 will solidify the product’s position in the database midmarket and could help Microsoft gain ground in the enterprise market. However, developers and administrators will have to learn to exploit SQL Server 2005’s new features and must evaluate those features against existing capabilities of competing products.

This report describes the major changes in SQL Server 2005 as a database management system, with individual sections describing the release’s new management features, developer features, and scalability and availability improvements. This report also includes a discussion of potential risks and challenges for customers and partners and an appendix that outlines the editions and pricing for SQL Server 2005.