I suppose by now all of you know about the lastest SQL Server 2005 beta (CTP6), which was released in February. If you have downloaded and installed this beta or any one of the prior CTP’s you will noticed there are no sample databases installed, which of course is normal.

If you are going to play with SQL Server 2008 you can create your own database. Then use those databases to experiment and play around with the new features of SQL Server 2008. But I personally like to use the sample databases provided from Microsoft.

The advantages of using sample databases is they are already populated and normally have lots of objects and code that take use the new features of SQL Server. Using these sample DBs allow you to explore the new features of SQL Server without building your own DB. Also when you are building examples to share like I do on my site (http://sqlserverexamples.com) it allows you to write T-SQL code that can easily be run by anyone that has installed the appropriate Microsoft sample database. This way you don’t need to spend a great deal of time creating sample data just to share a script to perform a specific task.

In prior versions of SQL Server we have had sample databases named, “Northwind”, “Pubs”, “AdventureWorks”, “AdventureWorksDW”, and so on . Well now with SQL Server 2008, Microsoft has provided some new sample databases. These sample databases are available at CODEPLEX at this location: http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=10901

I personally have only loaded the AdventureWorks2008 sample DB. Since this sample database contains a FILESTREAM object I had to enable the file stream feature just to be able to use this sample DB. You can find out more about installing this sample database here: http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Wiki/View.aspx?title=AW2008Details

So if you are looking to jump start you SQL Server 2008 experience consider downloading one of the sample databases provided by Microsoft. I’ll be writing most of my SQL Server 2008 articles and examples against the AdventureWorks2008 databases. So if you haven’t already downloaded and installed the AdventureWorks2008 sample DB you might just give it test drive. In doing this you will learn how to enable the file stream feature.

Happy Testing,

Greg Larsen, MCITP