1. Question: What are the key components of the MS SQL Server architecture?
- Answer: The main
components of MS SQL Server architecture include the Database Engine, SQL
Server Database, SQL Server Instance, and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
2. Question: Explain the role of the SQL Server Database
Engine.
- Answer: The SQL
Server Database Engine is the core service responsible for storing, processing,
and securing data. It includes the relational engine for processing queries,
the storage engine for managing data storage, and the query optimizer for
optimizing query execution plans.
3. Question: What is a SQL Server Instance?
- Answer: A SQL
Server Instance is an installation of SQL Server that runs as a separate
process with its own system and user databases. Each instance is identified by
a unique name and has its own configuration settings.
4. Question: What is the purpose of the SQL Server Buffer
Pool?
- Answer: The SQL
Server Buffer Pool is a region in memory that caches data and index pages from
SQL Server databases. It helps in reducing the need for frequent disk I/O by
keeping frequently accessed data in memory.
5. Question: Explain the SQL Server Log File and its role.
- Answer: The SQL
Server Log File is a transaction log that records all transactions and
modifications made to the database. It ensures data durability and supports
features like rollback and point-in-time recovery.
6. Question: What is a SQL Server Database File (.mdf)?
- Answer: A SQL
Server Database File with the .mdf extension is the primary data file
containing user and system data. It stores tables, indexes, stored procedures,
and other database objects.
7. Question: How does SQL Server handle security and
authentication?
- Answer: SQL
Server uses Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication for security.
Windows Authentication relies on Windows user accounts, while SQL Server
Authentication uses usernames and passwords stored in SQL Server.
8. Question: What is the role of the SQL Server Query
Optimizer?
- Answer: The SQL
Server Query Optimizer analyzes queries and generates efficient execution
plans. It determines the optimal way to retrieve data from tables, considering
factors like indexes and statistics to improve performance.
9. Question: Explain the SQL Server Tempdb database.
- Answer: Tempdb is
a system database in SQL Server used to store temporary objects, intermediate
results, and temporary tables. It is shared among all users and sessions in a
SQL Server instance.
10. Question: What is the SQL Server Management Studio
(SSMS)?
- Answer: SQL
Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a graphical tool provided by Microsoft for
managing and interacting with SQL Server. It allows users to perform tasks such
as creating databases, writing and executing queries, and managing server
configurations.