Microsoft Releases SQL Server 2000 Windows CE

By Michael Foley

(04/23/01, 08:51:32 AM EDT)

Microsoft is releasing their latest SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition 1.1 for evaluation. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition (SQL Server CE) is a compact relational database for iAppliances and mobile devices. SQL Server CE provides tools, application programming interfaces (APIs), and Transact-SQL syntax similar to the desktop version of SQL Server.

In the new version SQL Server CE is integrated into Microsoft Platform Builder 3.0 for installation onto embedded devices. It provides data synchronization and exposes a set of relational database features, including an optimizing query processor and support for transactions and assorted data types. Enterprise SQL Server databases can remotely access data and provide replication from SQL Server CE over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

SQL Server CE has a small memory footprint, delivering all of its functionality in approximately one megabyte (1 MB). A range of data types is supported to ensure flexibility, and 128-bit encryption is provided on the device for database file security.

SQL Server CE possesses a programming and operational model consistent with the rest of the SQL Server family. Remote data access exposes data in SQL Server 6.5, SQL Server 7.0, and SQL Server 2000 through remote execution of Transact-SQL statements and the ability to pull record sets to client device for updating. When used with SQL Server 2000, SQL Server CE provides extended capabilities for synchronization through merge replication. Both of these data access technologies take advantage of Internet standards-including HTTP Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption-through integration with Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS). This allows data to be accessed through firewalls.

The SQL Server 2000 Evaluation Edition can be downloaded for free at: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/productinfo/evaluatece.htm.