MSDE
Encyclopedia
Microsoft SQL Server Data Engine (MSDE, also Microsoft Data Engine or Microsoft Desktop Engine) is a relational database management system
developed by Microsoft
. It is a scaled-down version of Microsoft SQL Server
7.0 or 2000 which is free for non-commercial use as well as certain limited commercial use. It was introduced at Microsoft TechEd in May 1999, and was included as part of Microsoft Office
2000 Developer Edition. Its successor, SQL Server Express
was released in November 2005. Vendor support of MSDE ended on April 8, 2008.
that made this and other variations of Microsoft SQL Server, such as SQL Server Express possible.
The initial release of MSDE is called the "Microsoft Desktop Engine", which is based on SQL Server 7.0 and was positioned as an alternative to using Microsoft Access
's Microsoft Jet Database Engine
with a focus on its ability to operate as a client–server application instead of requiring direct access to the file system which the Jet database resided on. Microsoft Access, the company's most popular database tool at the time, was expanded for its Office 2000 release to incorporate using Microsoft Desktop Engine as its back-end data store. This design was promoted by Microsoft as a solution for small workgroups that may eventually grow to require the full SQL Server product. This initial release of MSDE also included the Data Transformation Services Wizard, which provided the ability to use OLE DB
and ODBC data sources to transfer data between SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE. Supported operating systems at the time of its release included Windows 95
, Windows 98
, and Windows NT 4.0
Service Pack 4, and was available for both x86 and Alpha
architectures.
Compared with the full server editions of SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, MSDE has some restrictions: a limit of 2 GB
databases, and has a workload governor which reduces its speed when eight or more concurrent workloads are running. Microsoft has also stated that MSDE is not supported in Windows NT 6.0
operating systems such as Windows Vista
. No graphical user interface
management tools were released for MSDE, but SQL Server 2000's Enterprise Manager
(as well as later versions such as SQL Server Management Studio
) can be used to connect to it.
MSDE could be distributed with commercial products by registering with Microsoft — in most cases this distribution is also free of charge.
Relational database management system
A relational database management system is a database management system that is based on the relational model as introduced by E. F. Codd. Most popular databases currently in use are based on the relational database model....
developed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. It is a scaled-down version of Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
7.0 or 2000 which is free for non-commercial use as well as certain limited commercial use. It was introduced at Microsoft TechEd in May 1999, and was included as part of Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
2000 Developer Edition. Its successor, SQL Server Express
SQL Server Express
Microsoft SQL Server Express, a freely downloadable and distributable version of Microsoft's SQL Server relational database management system, comprises a database specifically targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications.- Capabilities :...
was released in November 2005. Vendor support of MSDE ended on April 8, 2008.
Overview
MSDE was initially designed by (then) Microsoft Program Manager Jeff Alger and later implemented by Peter Byrne (core), Ronald R. Martinsen (core/setup), and Mike Maringas (setup). Jeff Alger and Ronald R. Martinsen are the co-inventors who hold the patentthat made this and other variations of Microsoft SQL Server, such as SQL Server Express possible.
The initial release of MSDE is called the "Microsoft Desktop Engine", which is based on SQL Server 7.0 and was positioned as an alternative to using Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Office Access, previously known as Microsoft Access, is a relational database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of...
's Microsoft Jet Database Engine
Microsoft Jet Database Engine
The Microsoft Jet Database Engine is a database engine on which several Microsoft products have been built. A database engine is the underlying component of a database, a collection of information stored on a computer in a systematic way...
with a focus on its ability to operate as a client–server application instead of requiring direct access to the file system which the Jet database resided on. Microsoft Access, the company's most popular database tool at the time, was expanded for its Office 2000 release to incorporate using Microsoft Desktop Engine as its back-end data store. This design was promoted by Microsoft as a solution for small workgroups that may eventually grow to require the full SQL Server product. This initial release of MSDE also included the Data Transformation Services Wizard, which provided the ability to use OLE DB
OLE DB
OLE DB is an API designed by Microsoft for accessing data from a variety of sources in an uniform manner. It is a set of interfaces implemented using the Component Object Model ; it is otherwise unrelated to OLE...
and ODBC data sources to transfer data between SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE. Supported operating systems at the time of its release included Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
, Windows 98
Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
, and Windows NT 4.0
Windows NT 4.0
Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996...
Service Pack 4, and was available for both x86 and Alpha
DEC Alpha
Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors...
architectures.
Compared with the full server editions of SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, MSDE has some restrictions: a limit of 2 GB
Gigabyte
The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units , therefore 1 gigabyte is...
databases, and has a workload governor which reduces its speed when eight or more concurrent workloads are running. Microsoft has also stated that MSDE is not supported in Windows NT 6.0
Windows NT 6.0
Windows NT 6.0 can refer to these releases of Microsoft Windows:*Windows Vista*Windows Server 2008*Windows Small Business Server 2008...
operating systems such as Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
. No graphical user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
management tools were released for MSDE, but SQL Server 2000's Enterprise Manager
Enterprise Manager
Enterprise Manager is the primary administrative tool for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and provides a MMC–based user interface that allows users to:*Define groups of servers running Microsoft SQL Server.*Register individual servers in a group....
(as well as later versions such as SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio is a tool included with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and later versions for configuring, managing, and administering all components within Microsoft SQL Server...
) can be used to connect to it.
MSDE could be distributed with commercial products by registering with Microsoft — in most cases this distribution is also free of charge.