The latest version of SQL server 2014 is a gift to the industry by Microsoft. This new version introduces many features that enhance the power of its users, who use it on a business level. The release of both SQL 2012 and 2014 was closed and it would be quite costly and resourceful when it comes to upgrade in any IT firm. However, this new SQL server 2014 has some very efficient features that justify an upgrade. With its new enhanced features In-Memory OLTP engine is the most noticeable application, which introduced for some high performance improvements for OLTP based programs as well as relational database professionals. Let us have a look at OLTP engine and some other interesting features of SQL Server 2014.
Enhanced In-Memory OLTP Engine
In-Memory OLTP is undoubtedly the most important feature in SQL server engine. This engine improves the performance of OLTP database, as it is a memory-optimized database engine integrated into the SQL Server engine. With In-Memory OLTP, you can define a heavily accessed tables as memory optimized. These memory tables are fully durable, transactional, and can be accessed by using Transact-SQL just like disk-based tables. Both disk-based tables and memory-optimized tables can be referenced by a query. The In-Memory OLTP engine is specifically supports high concurrency OLTP type transactions, which are driven from a middle-tire. It uses latch-free data structures and optimistic, multi-version concurrency control to support high concurrency. It supports Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP2.
Advanced AlwaysOn Availability Groups
AlwaysOn Availability Groups are developed to support Additional secondary replica as well as Windows Azure Integration. This feature was firstly introduced with SQL Server 2012. It increases the ability of SQL server by protecting multiple databases with up to four secondary replicas. SQL Server 2014 allows you to create asynchronous availability group replicas in Windows Azure for the worst recovery process.
Improved Windows Server 2012 Integration
SQL server 2014 is designed with enhanced integration with Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2012. This New SQL server 2014 has the ability to add 640 logical processors as well as 4TB of memory in hardware system. With (VM) Virtual Machine, it can add 14 virtual processors and 1TB of memory in a physical environment. SQL Server 2014 has the capability to integrate a new SSD (Solid State Disk) that allows you to use SSD storage to increase its buffering capacity. This improved buffer pool increases the performance of the system that gains for read-heavy OLTP workloads.
Developed Updateable Columnstore Indexes
Columnstore indexes were also firstly introduced in SQL 2012 Server version; it improves the performance of data warehousing queries. In SQL Server 2014 there are some improvements done by Microsoft such as types of queries, as well as Columnstore indexes, now they can provide up to 10x performance improvements. In the last version of Columnstore indexes, the underlying table was for read-only but now Microsoft has eliminated this restriction. In SQL Server 2014 performs updating of the underlying table, and Columnstore index uses all the columns in the tables and cannot be combined with other indexes.
Revised Backups Features
To encrypt database backups, all the earlier versions of SQL server need a professional utility. However, SQL Server 2014 provides an in-built database backup encryption. It also facilitates Windows Azure integration to SQL Server 2014 backup.
SQL Server Data Tools for (BI) Business Intelligence
In the last version, it was known as Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) and SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for BI. It is used to create SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) models, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports, and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages. SSDT BI supports MS Visual Studio 2012 as well as supports both SSAS and SSRS for all versions of SQL Server including 2014; however, SSIS is only supported by SQL Server 2014 only. In all the earlier versions of SQL Server the SSDT BI does not allow to install SQL Server Setup in it, you have to install it separately form MS download Center.
BI Capabilities for Office 365 Integration
Power BI for Office provides business awareness through navigation and visualization capabilities.
Discontinued and Consistent Features
Some of the features are upgraded but many of them are same in SQL Server 2014, such as replication, SSIS, or SSRS. There are many other features, which are very outdated, Microsoft discontinues from the launch of SQL server 2014, such as Compatibility level.
Need for Upgrade
Usually most of the organizations do not upgrade the new releases, but SQL Server 2014’s new In-Memory OLTP engine has some very promising and improved features that support many OLTP applications. There users must upgrade it so that they can improve the performance and flexibility of their current work.
Security Options
SQL Server 2014 Provides security for all of its database files, but at times, these security features does not work and the database gets corrupt. For SQL database recovery, users always seek for a reliable tool, which can support SQL Server 2014 as well. Stellar Repair for MS SQL utility is one of the most popular and reliable tools that can repair all your SQL Server database 2014 files whether they are damaged or corrupt. This tool recovers all the inaccessible objects such as keys, tables, indexes, constraints, triggers, rules, and defaults, in both MDF and NDF database files. It supports all the versions of SQL and can restore SQL Server ROW-compressed and PAGE-compressed data.
