Prerequisites and System Requirements

To install and use SQL-NS, your system must meet the minimum hardware and software requirements for SQL Server 2005. The details of these requirements are documented on the SQL Server 2005 website at http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/sysreqs/default.mspx.

The website is updated as new service packs and updates are released.

The SQL-NS Website

Microsoft's official SQL-NS website is http://www.microsoft.com/sql/ns

This website provides links to an online version of the product documentation, licensing information, whitepapers, and other technical resources. It's also a good place to look for news about SQL-NS, including product updates.

Throughout this chapter, I will refer to URLs beneath this main SQL-NS web page. Please be aware that these URLs might change as Microsoft revises the layout of the website. If, at the time you read this, a particular URL I've mentioned does not appear to work, start from the root of the website (the preceding URL is not likely to change) and try to find the information by navigating the links provided or by using the search facility.