How to choose right Edition of Sql server for your Windows Dedicated Server?

The performance of your application is decided by how fast your database server is functioning. If you are building the high end Windows Dedicated server by allocating maximum hardware resources without considering about what kind of sql server edition you need to go for it , you are not going to to use the hardware in a efficient way.

You need to choose the correct edition of Sql server before you start building your Windows Dedicated Server.

The following are the sql server editions which is currently available.

SQL Server Developer Edition
SQL Server Express
SQL Server Web
SQL Server Standard
SQL Server Enterprise

Sql server developer edition can be used by the developers for testing of the application. Once the testing is completed you should decide which edition of sql server you can go for the production environment.

If you are having the smaller application with minimum database size you can start with Sql server express edition which is totally free. SQL Server Express edition allows you to grow your database size up to 10 GB. Also express edition will use only one core of processor to handle the requests.

When your database size goes more than 10 GB and also when you need better processing of your sql data , you can go for Sql web edition which is a licensed edition.

When you are having the high amount of Database size in GB’s and when you are having maximum database transactions, you can go for Sql server standard edition.

SQL Server Enterprise Edition is the high end of all Sql editions. If you are looking at highest availability of database server and disaster recovery , you can able to go with this edition.

Conclusion :

If you are just starting to use Sql server , You can start with Sql server express edition. Based on your business model and growth of your database size you can choose the right edition of Sql server for your Dedicated Server.