Rich Application Development

Start out with SQL Server 2008 R2 Express and get 10 GB of storage, free redistribution, and a trusted database engine with integrated developer tools.

Report on data

• Visualize database information with Report Designer in Microsoft Visual Studio.

• Track site traffic and other pertinent information.

• Make better-informed decisions with analytical capabilities.

• Design, preview, publish, view, and manage reports.

Back up data

• Protect data from hardware failures, administrative errors, and natural disasters.

• Create database backups for use during routine procedures, such as archiving or copying a database from one server to another.

Control data

• Easily configure, manage, administer, and develop components of SQL Server with SQL Server Management Studio Express.

• Use a graphical management interface hosted inside Visual Studio.

Map data

• Easily create maps to visualize data with Bing Maps.

• Enhance location-based data reports with Bing Maps in Report Builder 3.0.

• Track the location of visitors and focus business efforts on specific geographies.

Minimize administrative tasks associated with an on-premises solution by hosting web applications on Microsoft SQL Azure, which provides cost-effective high availability and scalability.

Get started faster

• Focus more on innovation and less on setting up infrastructure.

• Optimize for speed and scalability by pairing SQL Azure with the rest of the Windows Azure platform.

Keep costs low

• Quickly set up new solutions with minimal upfront capital expense.

• Eliminate the need to install, set up, patch, or manage database software.

• Save time and management costs with automated high availability and fault tolerance.

Provision data storage

• Provision enterprise-class data storage in minutes and respond rapidly to changing demand.

• Avoid spending time deploying and securing server hardware, network components, and software.

• Pay for only what you need, and extend data storage when required.

Choose the most appropriate language for projects, as SQL Server works with ASP, C, Java, and PHP. Work with popular web applications, such as WordPress and Drupal.

Work with SQL Server for PHP

• Enable reliable, scalable integration with PHP applications deployed on the Windows platform.

• Connect to all editions of SQL Server, including SQL Azure and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express.

• Use PHP features, including PHP streams, to read and write large objects.

Work with SQL Server for Java

• Provide access to SQL Server 2008 R2 from any Java application, application server, or Java-enabled applet.

• Use features introduced in SQL Server 2008, such as date and time data types.

• Download the driver at no additional charge, and freely distributable with registration.

• Remain compliant with Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) 4.0.

• Run on Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 5.0 or later.

Use SQL Server for WordPress and Drupal

• Enjoy continuing contributions from the Drupal community for the Microsoft Web Platform.

• Support Drupal 7 projects with the new PDO Driver for SQL Server and the SQL Server Module for Drupal 7.

• Easily enable SQL Server or SQL Azure as the database for WordPress projects.

Easily accommodate growth by upgrading to SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise or SQL Server 2008 R2 Web for greater scalability and management capabilities.

Grow at low cost with SQL Server 2008 R2 Web

• Upgrade from SQL Server 2008 R2 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 Web with full-feature-set support.

• Enjoy low total-cost-of-ownership with enhanced manageability and specialized pricing for website solutions.

• Automate administrative tasks and free up your valuable time with SQL Server Agent.

Deliver advanced services with SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise

• Enable advanced business scenarios, such as regulatory compliance and business intelligence solutions.

• Achieve higher utilization and scale in a multi-tenancy environment through advanced features, such as Resource Governor.

Microsoft WebMatrix is a new Web development tool that includes everything you need to build Web sites using Windows; IIS Express (a development Web server), ASP.NET (a Web framework), and SQL Server Compact (an embedded database).

WebMatrix makes Web site development easy

• Start coding, testing, and deploying your own Web sites without having to worry about configuring your own Web server, managing databases, or learning a lot of concepts.

Start from scratch using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

• Start with your own HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

• Connect to a database or add dynamic server code using the new inline syntax for ASP.NET Web pages.

• Code, run, and publish your Web site, all using WebMatrix.

Start with popular PHP or ASP.NET Web apps

• Free and popular open-source Web applications such as WordPress, Joomla!, DotNetNuke or Umbraco are just a click away.

• Simply select an application, and WebMatrix handles downloading, installing, and configuring it for you.

• Customize your site using the built-in code-editor and make it yours.

Seamless site publishing and hosting

• Find a Web host that fits your requirements from the hosting gallery to choose the right hosting partner and home for your site.

• Built-in publishing support for FTP, FTPS, and WebDeploy ensure that your files, databases, and settings arrive intact on the Web.