FileTable to Blend SQL Server, Files

A planned SQL Server feature called FileTable will enable applications to store large objects such as Office documents or video files in a combination of SQL Server and the Windows file system. The user can access the objects through both SQL Server and Windows file system interfaces, enabling files to be stored within SQL Server but allowing file system access for existing applications. The feature will benefit applications that use databases to index files (potentially including Microsoft’s SharePoint) as well as classic business applications (such as customer relationship management [CRM] applications) that need to handle documents. FileTable will appear in SQL Server “Denali,” which is expected to be released in late 2011 or early 2012.

Blobs, Databases, and Files

FileTable will be useful for applications that need to store additional file metadata that cannot be kept in the Windows NT File System (NTFS) or that need to store files referenced by data stored in SQL Server. Examples of such applications include those that access document or media archives, wikis, and CRM systems where documents such as sales proposals need to be associated with customer data.