Microsoft SQL Server Express
Developer(s)Microsoft
Stable release
SQL Server 2022 Express / November 4, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-11-04)
Written inC, C++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, Linux
Platform.NET Framework 4.0[1]
Available inEnglish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish
TypeRelational database management system
LicenseProprietary software[2]
Websitewww.microsoft.com

Microsoft SQL Server Express is a version of Microsoft's SQL Server relational database management system that is free to download, distribute and use. It comprises a database specifically targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications. The product traces its roots to the Microsoft Database Engine (MSDE) product, which was shipped with SQL Server 2000. The "Express" branding has been used since the release of SQL Server 2005.

Microsoft SQL Server Express LocalDB is a version of Microsoft SQL Server Express, on-demand managed instance of the SQL Server engine. It is targeted to developers, and has the following restrictions: up to 10 GB database size and only local connections (network connections are not supported).[3][4][5]

Capabilities

SQL Server Express provides many of the features of the paid, full versions of Microsoft SQL Server database management system.[6] However it has technical restrictions that make it unsuitable for some large-scale deployments. Differences in the Express product include:

Unlike the predecessor product, MSDE, the Express product does not include a concurrent workload-governor to "limit performance if the database engine receives more work than is typical of a small number of users."[13]

SQL Server Express includes several GUI tools for database management. These include:

The predecessor product MSDE generally lacked basic GUI management tools,[15]

Features available in SQL Server "Standard" and better editions but absent from SQL Server Express include:

LocalDB

See also: SQL Server Compact

SQL Server Express LocalDB announced at 2011.[16]

This version supports silent installation,[4] requires no management and it is compatible with other editions of SQL Server at the API level.[16]

LocalDB runs as non-admin user, requires no configuration or administration.[16][4]

LocalDB limits to local system only and supports no remote connections.[16] To connect this version it is needs special connection string.[3]

It is possible create several instances of the LocalDB for different applications.[16] Default instance names 'SqlLocalDB'.

Variants

Microsoft makes SQL Server Express N1 available as:

In the Free 2005 Express version, for example, a standard approach to installation options was provided, as follows. Generally, the SQL 2005 Express installers are packaged with the following consistent naming convention:

SQLEXPR.EXE
Has installers for BOTH 32-bit and 64-bit processors, but is a basic install
SQLEXPR32.EXE
Has ONLY the installer for 32-bit processors (still the basic install)
SQLEXPRWT.EXE
Has installers for BOTH 32-bit and 64-bit processors and SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) (2008 R2)
SQLEXPR_ADV.EXE
Has the basics and SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) + Reporting and Full Text Queries
SQLEXPR_TOOLKIT.EXE
Has the basics and SSMSE and Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS)

These optional variants have gone through several service packs (SP), and each SP installer can be used without using the older ones first:

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2012)
SqlLocalDB.msi
Microsoft® SQL Server Express LocalDB Installer.[4]
SQLLocalDB.exe
CLI Microsoft® SQL Server Express LocalDB (LocalDB manipulation tool).[4]

Version history

Microsoft SQL Server Express version history
Version Release date Mainstream support end date Extended support end date Supported operating systems
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition 2005-11-07[17] 2011-04-12[18] 2016-04-12[18] Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (only SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP4)[19]
SQL Server 2008 Express 2009-02-08[20] 2014-07-08[21] 2019-07-09[21] Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008[22]
SQL Server 2008 R2 Express 2010-04-16[23] 2014-07-08[24] 2019-07-09[24] Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2[25]
SQL Server 2012 Express 2012-05-14[26] 2017-07-11[27] 2022-07-12[27] Windows Vista Service Pack 2, Windows 7, Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008,[28] Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2[29]
SQL Server 2014 Express 2014-04-01[30] 2019-07-09[31] 2024-07-09[31] Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 SP2,[32] Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2[33]
SQL Server 2016 Express 2016-06-01[34] 2021-07-13[35] 2026-07-14[35] Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016
SQL Server 2017 Express 2017-09-29[36] 2022-10-11[37] 2027-10-12[37] Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016*,
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 or 7.4, SUSE Enterprise Linux Server v12 SP2, Ubuntu 16.04LTS,
Docker Engine 1.8+ (on Windows, Mac, or Linux)
SQL Server 2019 Express 2019-11-04[38] 2025-01-07[39] 2030-01-08[39] Windows 10 TH1 1507 or greater, Windows Server 2016 or greater, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 or greater, SUSE Enterprise Linux Server v12 SP2, Ubuntu 16.04LTS, Docker Engine 1.8+ (on Windows, Mac, or Linux)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014 - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs". Msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  2. ^ "About the SQL Server License Terms - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs". Msdn.microsoft.com. 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  3. ^ a b "What is LocalDB". Express DB. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Announcing SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB RC0". Microsoft Docs. Microsoft. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  5. ^ "Introducing LocalDB, an improved SQL Express". Microsoft. July 12, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Disable SQL Server VSS Writer service.
  7. ^ "Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008 R2". Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  8. ^ "Compare Edition Features". Microsoft.
  9. ^ "SQL Server Express with Advanced Services Features". Microsoft. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  10. ^ "How SQL Server 2005 Express Edition determines the CPU count and uses the CPUs during processing". MSDN. November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  11. ^ "Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014 - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs". Msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  12. ^ "Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2016 - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs". Msdn.microsoft.com. 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  13. ^ "The SQL Server 2000 Workload Governor". MSDN. January 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  14. ^ "Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft.com. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  15. ^ "How do I Manage SQL Server". Archived from the original on 2010-07-24.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Introducing LocalDB, an improved SQL Express". Microsoft Docs. Microsoft. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  17. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2005)". Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  19. ^ "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  20. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2008)". Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft.com. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  23. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 - Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2008 R2)". Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2008 R2". msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  26. ^ "Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2012)". Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  28. ^ "Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2012". Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  29. ^ "Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 SP2 Express". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  30. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express". Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2014)". Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  32. ^ "Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014". Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Express". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  34. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Express". Microsoft.
  35. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2016)".
  36. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express". Microsoft.
  37. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2017)".
  38. ^ "Download Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express".
  39. ^ a b "Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2019)".

External links

Microsoft development tools
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