Diffrences between Microsoft SQL Server 2008r2 and 2012, on how they store data.

Question

Hi

We want to know if there is some documentation on how Microsoft SQL Server 2008r2 differs from SQL Server 2012 on how they store data. Are they using the same methods?? As we understood is the 2008 version using some kind of cubes to form the databasetables. And as we understood on the 2012 version, it should have a diffrent structure on the tables in the database. This one should no longer use cubes. Could someone tell us if this is correct and is there any documentation on how those two versions are structured.? Simply we want to know how the two databases are stuctured.? 

Thank you// From Sweden

Answer 1

I am not aware of any new methods that SQL Server stores the data. Thinking about columstore indexes? I would suggest you to wait till RTM version will released and all documentation will be published. 

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Best Regards, Uri Dimant SQL Server MVP http://dimantdatabasesolutions.blogspot.com/ http://sqlblog.com/blogs/uri_dimant/

Answer 2

I am not aware of any new methods that SQL Server stores the data. Thinking about columstore indexes? I would suggest you to wait till RTM version will released and all documentation will be published. 

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Best Regards, Uri Dimant SQL Server MVP http://dimantdatabasesolutions.blogspot.com/ http://sqlblog.com/blogs/uri_dimant/

Bingo: You need to understand that this question is a bit premature.  If this issue is critical I suggest that you contact Microsoft directly rather than here in the forums.

Answer 3

I think what you are asking about is the new tabular model in SQL Server Analysis Services that is used by the new PowerView technology, and contrasts with the BI Semantic (BISM) model and cube storage in SSAS. Those apply to the analytics and data warehousing features delivered by SSAS, not the relational data storage from the Database Engine. This is a page describing the two:

http://sqlserverpedia.com/blog/sql-server-bloggers/decisions-powerpivot-ssas-tabular-or-ssas-multidimensional-model-in-sql-server-2012/

If that is what you were thinking of, then I recommend posting follow up questions in the Analysis Services forum monitored by people familiar with those features:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlanalysisservices/threads

Uri and Kent are correct that the relational Database Engine didn't make fundamental changes to the way it stores relational data for SQL Server 2012, although it did add some new options such as ColumnStore.

Also, now that we have announced the launch of SQL Server 2012, we have updated the SQL Server documentation with the RTM version:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms130214(SQL.110).aspx

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Alan Brewer [MSFT] SQL Server Documentation Team This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.