SQL Server Express provides many of the features of the paid, full versions of Microsoft SQL Server database management system.4 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."11
SQL Server Express includes several GUI tools for database management. These include:
The predecessor product MSDE generally lacked basic GUI management tools,13
Features available in SQL Server "Standard" and better editions but absent from SQL Server Express include:
See also: SQL Server Compact
SQL Server Express LocalDB announced at 2011.14
This version supports silent installation,15 requires no management and is compatible with other editions of SQL Server at the API level.16
LocalDB runs as non-admin user, requires no configuration or administration.1718
LocalDB limits to local system only and supports no remote connections.19 A special connection string is needed to connect this version.20
It is possible create several instances of the LocalDB for different applications.21 Default instance names 'SqlLocalDB'.
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:
These optional variants have gone through several service packs (SP), and each SP installer can be used without using the older ones first:
"What is LocalDB". Express DB. Retrieved 2021-11-01. https://expressdb.io/sql-server-express-vs-localdb.html#sql-server-express-vs-localdb ↩
"Announcing SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB RC0". Microsoft Docs. Microsoft. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2021-11-01. https://docs.microsoft.com/ru-ru/archive/blogs/sqlexpress/announcing-sql-server-2012-express-localdb-rc0 ↩
"Introducing LocalDB, an improved SQL Express". Microsoft. July 12, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2023. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/archive/blogs/sqlexpress/introducing-localdb-an-improved-sql-express ↩
Disable SQL Server VSS Writer service. https://www.backup-utility.com/windows-server/windows-server-backup-reading-data-please-wait-4348.html ↩
"Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008 R2". Retrieved 2010-06-22. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645993(v=SQL.105).aspx ↩
"Compare Edition Features". Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/editions-compare.aspx ↩
"SQL Server Express with Advanced Services Features". Microsoft. Retrieved 28 March 2012. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms365248.aspx ↩
"How SQL Server 2005 Express Edition determines the CPU count and uses the CPUs during processing". MSDN. November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-25. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914278 ↩
"Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014 - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs". Msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506(v=sql.120).aspx ↩
"Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2016 - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs". Msdn.microsoft.com. 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2019-04-03. https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/cc645993.aspx#CrossBoxScale ↩
"The SQL Server 2000 Workload Governor". MSDN. January 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-15. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Aa224554(SQL.80).aspx ↩
"Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft.com. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2019-04-03. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35579 ↩
"How do I Manage SQL Server". Archived from the original on 2010-07-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20100724165221/http://sqlserver2000.databases.aspfaq.com/how-do-i-manage-sql-server/msde.html ↩
"Introducing LocalDB, an improved SQL Express". Microsoft Docs. Microsoft. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2022-04-17. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/sqlexpress/introducing-localdb-an-improved-sql-express ↩
"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21844 ↩
"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2005)". Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=2855 ↩
"Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved 2017-04-07. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21844 ↩
"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=1695 ↩
"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2008)". Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=13165 ↩
"Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft.com. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2019-04-03. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=1695 ↩
"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 - Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3743 ↩
"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2008 R2)". Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14917 ↩
"Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2008 R2". msdn.microsoft.com. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-16. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506(v=sql.105).aspx ↩
"Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29062 ↩
"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2012)". Retrieved 26 December 2012. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=16139 ↩
"Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2012". Retrieved 6 June 2017. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506%28v=sql.110%29.aspx ↩
"Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 SP2 Express". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved 2017-04-07. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=43351 ↩
"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express". Retrieved 11 April 2014. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dn434042.aspx ↩
"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2014)". Retrieved 11 April 2014. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?c2=1044 ↩
"Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2014". Retrieved 30 June 2017. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506(v=sql.120).aspx ↩
"Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Express". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved 2017-04-08. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42299 ↩
"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Express". Microsoft. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52679 ↩
"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2016)". http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?c2=1044 ↩
"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express". Microsoft. https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=55994 ↩
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"Download Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express". https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=866658 ↩
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"Microsoft Support Lifecycle (SQL Server 2022)". https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/lifecycle/products/sql-server-2022 ↩