Microsoft SQL Dedicated Server

Quick, Simple, and Scalable MSSQL Dedicated Servers

What is a MSSQL Dedicated Server?

A MSSQL dedicated server gives Steadfast Networks customers access to MSSQL, the relational web hosting database backed by the power of Microsoft. The 2008 version of MSSQL offered by Steadfast Networks features all the great data management functions you'd expect from a Microsoft product, plus some new innovations that really put MSSQL over the top.

The main function of any database server is to store and retrieve website information as requests come in from other software applications, either on the same computer or from another computer on the same network. Customers love the MSSQL database because of its implementation of "SQL Server Always On" technology, providing near-zero downtime for the database server. This technology also provides automatic maintenance services, drastically improving MSSQL's speed and reliability.

MSSQL also offers support for both structured and semi-structured data, and utilizes intrinsic awareness of multimedia data to properly store digital picture, video, and audio files. MSSQL also includes full-text search functionality within the database engine to enhance performance and streamline management. A Resource Governor feature allows you to dedicate specific resources to particular users or workflows. And the MSSQL server achieves exceptional scalability using advanced compression features.

MSSQL has been benchmarked in speed, performance, and scalability. It's the database of choice for customers whose web applications are hosted on a Windows platform.

How can I get a MSSQL Dedicated Server from Steadfast Networks?

Steadfast Networks makes it easy to harness the power of Microsoft for your database storage needs. We offer dedicated server leasing plans starting at just $79.95 per month. For that low price, you'll receive 24/7 support from the top-notch technical team based in the Chicago facility where all of our servers are housed. Steadfast makes it easy to utilize MSSQL, offering the software at two different price tiers:

MSSQL Web 2008 - $35 per month
MSSQL Standard 2008 - $225 per month (per CPU)

The main difference between the two editions is that the Web edition is specifically designed for web hosting environments and doesn't have the full complement of features offered by the Standard edition. For example, the Web edition only has witness capacity when it comes to database mirroring, and lacks some key replication, development, and integration tools. However, both editions are equipped to handle up to 4 CPUs with an unlimited amount of RAM. For a full list of the differences between the Web and Standard editions, see this page.

MSSQL Dedicated Server Technical Requirements

Both of the available editions of MSSQL require the following in terms of hardware:

512 MB RAM minimum (2.048 or more GHz recommended)
1.0 GHz CPU minimum (2.0 GHz recommended) - for a 32-bit processor
1.4 GHz CPU minimum (2.0 GHz recommended) - for a 64-bit processor

The other requirements for MSSQL are too numerous to list here but can be accessed at Microsoft's SQL Server Library. You can also access detailed installation instructions here.

Video: Installation of SQL Server 2008 - SQL Tutorial

Tips, Tricks, and Documentation for MSSQL Dedicated Servers

Microsoft provides extensive documentation for the 2008 version in itsLibrary, and even includes a database of helpful Tutorials. The MSSQL Forums are another great resource for learning tips and tricks.

These websites offer additional enrichment to enhance your MSSQL experience:

SQL Server 2008 Tips
SQL Server Tips & Tricks
MSDN Blogs