What This Book Is About

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We'll begin with the fundamentals of SQL Server and then build on those basics as we look at more advanced topics. As we go, we'll work through many examples of performing particular tasks. This book is divided into five parts:

• Part I: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server This part provides an overview of SQL Server 2000. The chapters in Part I cover topics such as new SQL Server features, the relationship between SQL Server and Windows 2000, and the duties performed by DBAs. This information might be a review for some of you, but it works as the foundation for the remainder of the book. Chapter 1 was authored by Marcilina S. (Frohock) Garcia, Chapter 2 was authored by Jamie Reding, and Chapter 3 was authored by Edward Whalen.
• Part II: Installation and Setup This part covers topics related to the installation and setup of SQL Server, including planning your SQL Server installation, installing SQL Server, and using SQL Server Enterprise Manager. You'll also learn how to create databases and tables and how to use SQL Server networking and Microsoft Cluster Services (MSCS). Chapters 8, 9, and 10 were authored by Marcilina S. (Frohock) Garcia; Chapters 7, 11, and 12 were authored by Jamie Reding; Chapters 4 and 5 were authored by Edward Whalen; and Chapter 6 was authored by Steve Adrien DeLuca.
• Part III: Using Microsoft SQL Server This part describes how to use SQL Server and includes topics such as retrieving data by using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and creating and managing tables by using T-SQL. You'll also learn how to create and use rules, defaults, and constraints as well as indexes, views, and transactions. Later chapters cover using advanced T-SQL, creating and managing stored procedures and triggers, loading the database, and accessing SQL Server from the Internet. Chapters 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, and 24 were authored by Jamie Reding; Chapters 13, 16, 17, 19, and 20 were authored by Marcilina S. (Frohock) Garcia; and Chapter 23 was authored by Mitchell Schreoter.
• Part IV: Built-In Server Features This part looks at server-side features, devoting three chapters to database replication. You'll learn what replication is, how to configure it, and how to use it. Part IV also includes a chapter about Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC) and a chapter about SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services. Chapters 25, 26, 27, and 28 were authored by Edward Whalen; and Chapter 29 was authored by Jamie Reding.
• Part V: Management, Tuning, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting This part consists of a series of chapters that explain how to manage, tune, maintain, and troubleshoot a SQL Server system. The chapters in Part V cover SQL Server administration, backing up and restoring SQL Server, and user and security management. You'll also learn about query optimization and how to identify and solve common performance problems. Chapters 30, 31, and 36 were authored by Marcilina S. (Frohock) Garcia; Chapters 32, 33, and 35 were authored by Edward Whalen; and Chapter 34 was authored by Jamie Reding.

The authors of this book truly hope that you enjoy it and that it is useful in your daily work. And now, let's get started learning how to use SQL Server 2000.