Download SQL Server Express Editions

Download SQL Server Express Editions: An Overview

Microsoft SQL Server Express is a powerful and reliable free data management system that delivers a rich and reliable data store for lightweight Websites and desktop applications. The Express edition is free and ideal for learning, developing, and powering desktop, web & small server applications, making it a valuable resource for anyone taking a SQL Server Tutorial or SQL Server Certification Course.

The SQL Server 2019 is the latest version of SQL Server which can be run on Windows and Linux. Even you run SQL Server 2019 on Mac using containers.

With the release of the SQL Server 2019 version, it comes with new features, and a few of them are given below.

• Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR)
• Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves
• Replication in Linux
• Big Data Clusters
• Memory-optimized TempDB Metadata
• Intelligent Query Processing (IDQ) Improvements
• Columnstore Index Enhancements
• SQL Data Discovery and Classification (SDDC)
• Better Scale-out with the automatic redirection of the connections based on various read & write intent

The SQL Server 2014 Express release includes the full version of SQL Server 2014 Management Studio.

Read More - Top 50 DBMS Interview Questions and Answers

SQL Server 2014 downloads

Before downloading the SQL Server 2014 Express version, let's understand the various files and their importance.

1. LocalDB (SqlLocalDB)

LocalDB is a lightweight version of Express that has all its programmable features, yet runs in user mode and has a fast, zero-configuration installation and a short list of pre-requisites. Use this if you need a simple way to create and work with databases from code. It can be bundled with Application and Database Development tools like Visual Studio and or embedded with an application that needs local databases. You will see two files one for the 32-bit system (ENU\x86\SqlLocalDB.msi) and the other for the 64-bit system (ENU\x64\SqlLocalDB.msi).

2. Express (SQLEXPR)

This package includes the SQL Server database engine only. Best suited to accept remote connections or administer remotely. You will see two files one for a 32-bit system (SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe) and the other for a 64-bit system (SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe).

3. Express with Tools (SQLEXPRWT)

This package contains everything needed to install and configure SQL Server as a database server including the full version of SQL Server 2014 Management Studio. Choose either LocalDB or Express depending on your needs above. You will see two files one for a 32-bit system (SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe) and the other for a 64-bit system (SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe).

4. SQL Server Management Studio Express (SQLManagementStudio)

This does not contain the database, but only the tools to manage SQL Server instances, including LocalDB, SQL Express, SQL Azure, a full version of SQL Server 2014 Management Studio, etc. If you already have the database and only need the management tools, download this one. You will see two files one for a 32-bit system (SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU.exe) and the other for a 64-bit system (SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU).

5. Express with Advanced Services (SQLEXPRADV)

This package contains all the components of SQL Server Express including the full version of SQL Server 2014 Management Studio. This is a larger download than “with Tools,” as it also includes both Full-Text Search and Reporting Services. You will see two files one for the 32-bit system (SQLEXPRADV_x86_ENU.exe) and the other for the 64-bit system (SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.ex

Read More

• Top SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Summary

The SQL Server Express edition is one of the entry-level and free-to-use editions of SQL Server. SQL Server can be used to deploy a small application or an enterprise application alone with multiple exiting features as discussed above in this article. We do not have to pay the license fees for using the developer version even though you are using it in a production environment. It can be used to reduce the overall license cost as well; for example, if you’re deploying a database mirroring certainly.

I hope you will enjoy the SQL Server 2014 Express. I would like to have feedback from my blog readers. Your valuable feedback, questions, or comments about this article are always welcome.

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