Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL): What It Is and How to Manage It

This article applies only if your FimuroHost package includes Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL), which is used mostly with Windows / ASP.NET hosting. Standard Linux Cloud Hosting uses MySQL-compatible MariaDB instead. Ask support if you're not sure what your plan includes.

What is MS SQL?

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) made by Microsoft. Its main job is to store data and return it when other software asks for it, whether that software runs on the same machine or connects over a network such as the internet.

"Relational" means the data is organised into related tables. SQL Server is the whole management system around that data (security, queries, backups), not just the data itself. You talk to it using SQL (Structured Query Language), the standard language for querying and administering databases. Microsoft's own dialect is called T-SQL.

The tool to use: SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is Microsoft's free, industry-standard tool for working with SQL Server. It gives you:

• visual tools for creating and browsing databases, tables and other objects
• a query editor with code completion for writing and running scripts
• templates and snippets for common boilerplate code
• features to deploy, monitor and upgrade data-tier components
• options to script out and export your data for backups

Download it from Microsoft's SSMS download page. It runs on Windows.

Connect to your database

1. Open SSMS. The Connect to Server window appears.
2. Server type: Database Engine.
3. Server name: mssql.stackcp.com
4. Authentication: SQL Server Authentication, then enter the database username and password from your control panel.
5. Recent SSMS versions encrypt connections by default. If you see a certificate error, tick Trust server certificate in the connection options.
6. Click Connect, then expand Databases in Object Explorer to find yours.

Back up regularly

Keep your own backups of your MS SQL databases and make them a routine. On shared servers the built-in Back Up… task usually can't save a file to your own computer, so use a script export instead:

1. Right-click your database and choose Tasks → Generate Scripts…
2. Select all objects, then under Advanced set Types of data to script to Schema and data.
3. Save the script to a file and store it somewhere safe.

Need help?

If something doesn't work as described, open a support ticket from your client area or message us on WhatsApp at 01818160926. Tell us the domain name and what you have already tried, and we'll take it from there.