Difference bw Sql Server 2005, Sql Server 2008

What is the difference between Sql Server 2005, Sql Server 2008

With the introduction of SQL Server 2012, it is worth looking at the features available in the different versions of SQL Server, and the benefits that they bring. The following list the major features (and a few negatives) for each upgrade step from SQL 2005 to 2012. Note, SQL Server 2012 SP1 is now available, and brings very few new features, but improves performance and satiability.
SQL Server 2005 to 2008
• Transparent Data Encryption. The ability to encrypt an entire database.
• Backup Encryption. Executed at backup time to prevent tampering.
• External Key Management. Storing Keys separate from the data.
• Auditing. Monitoring of data access.
• Data Compression. Fact Table size reduction and improved performance.
• Resource Governor. Restrict users or groups from consuming high levels or resources.
• Hot Plug CPU. Add CPUs on the fly.
• Performance Studio. Collection of performance monitoring tools.
• Installation improvements. Disk images and service pack uninstall options.
• Dynamic Development. New ADO and Visual Studio options as well as Dot Net 3.
• Entity Data Services. Line Of Business (LOB) framework and Entity Query Language (eSQL)
• LINQ. Development query language for access multiple types of data such as SQL and XML.
• Data Synchronizing. Development of frequently disconnected applications.
• Large UDT. No size restriction on UDT.
• Dates and Times. New data types: Date, Time, Date Time Offset.
• File Stream. New data type VarBinary(Max) FileStream for managing binary data.
• Table Value Parameters. The ability to pass an entire table to a stored procedure.
• Spatial Data. Data type for storing Latitude, Longitude, and GPS entries.
• Full Text Search. Native Indexes, thesaurus as metadata, and backup ability.
• SQL Server Integration Service. Improved multiprocessor support and faster lookups.
• MERGE. TSQL command combining Insert, Update, and Delete.
• SQL Server Analysis Server. Stack improvements, faster block computations.
• SQL Server Reporting Server. Improved memory management and better rendering.
• Microsoft Office 2007. Use OFFICE as an SSRS template. SSRS to WORD.
SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server R2
• Backup compression is available in R2 standard (was only in Enterprise)
• SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition database size limit increased to 10 GB (from 4GB)
• PowerPivot for SharePoint introduced for loading, querying, and managing PowerPivot workbooks that you publish to a SharePoint 2010 server
• PowerPivot for Excel is used to assemble and create relationships in large amounts of data from different sources, and then use that data as the basis for PivotTables and other data visualization objects that support data analysis in Excel.
• Utility Explorer introduced for centralized management of managed SQL instances.
• Master Data Services introduced to manage master (reference) data and maintain an auditable record of that data as it changes over time.
• Enhanced security to prevent an authentication relay attack.
SQL Server 2008R2 to 2012
• Inclusion of Visual Studio 2010 (BI edition)
• AlwaysOn technology – allowing automatic replication and switching to mirrored database/server in the event of problems
• In most instances, the performance is 10 times faster than the predecessor (Microsoft claim)
• Buffer rate is high in SQL Server 2012 because of data compression.
• Data visualization tool is available in SQL Server 2012.This allows snapshots of data.
• Support for persistent computed columns and extra geographical approach is possible with spatial features in SQL Server 2012.
• Allows for warm Service Patch patching – meaning SQL or server does not have to be rebooted/restarted to apply patches
• New ‘Contained Databases’ feature allowing easier movement of database instances between servers
• New ‘ColumnStore’ indexes – which turn indexes 90 degrees in use (instead of one index per row, you get multiple column indexes per row which has a major impact on performance)
• New TRY_CONVERT T-SQL command, which will perform data type conversion, but will NULL rather than error where conversion fails.
• New OFFSET/FETCH command which allows automatic capture of pages of rows (like SELECT TOP 90 * from…, but gives a starting row number for the page)
• Redesign of SQL Server management studio – providing new features, better intellisense, new viewing tools and cleaner interface

There are some differences between both.
 

Sr No	SQL Server 2005	SQL Server 2008
1	XML datatype is introduced.	XML datatype is used.
2	Can not encrypt the entire database.	Can encrypt the entire database introduced in 2008.
3	Datetime is used for both date and time.	Date and time are seperately used for date and time
4	No table datatype is included.	Table datatype introduced.
5	SSIS is started using.	SSIS avails in this version.
6	CMS is not available.	Central Management Server(CMS) is Introduced.
7	PBM is not available	Policy based management(PBM) server is Introduced