SQL Server management tools that makes life easier(4)

SQL Server Installation CenterOnce you install SQL Server on your machine, you end up seeing this tool under Configuration Tools. This is a very handy SQL Server tool for DBAs and developers, as you can see important SQL Server resources. It also mentions different installation options which are available in SQL Server, as well as options for installation.

SQL Server management tools that makes life easier (4)

SQL Server Configuration ManagerSQL Server Configuration Manager can be used to manage all SQL Server services. This SQL Server tool can network protocols such as shared memory, named pipes and TCP/IP. Configuration Manager can also manage network connectivity configuration from SQL Server client machines. It is always advised to start, stop, pause and resume all SQL Services using this tool. As a best practice, one should always change the service account or passwords using the SQL Server Configuration tool.

SQL Server management tools that makes life easier (3)

Reporting Services Configuration ManagerReporting Services Configuration Manager can create and change settings for the Report Server and Report Manager. If you have installed SQL Server Reporting Services in install-only mode, then after the installation you will have to use Reporting Services Configuration Manager to configure the report server for native mode. If you have installed Report Server using the install-and-configure option, then you can use this SQL Server management tool to verify and modify the existing settings. The tool can configure a local or remote report server instance, and can configure the service account in which the report server service should be run. You can configure Web Service and Report Manger URLs, as well as create, configure and manage Report Server Databases such as ReportServer and ReportServerTempDB databases. Other features include:

• Configuring email settings on the report server to send out reports as an email attachment. 
• Configuring the unattended execution account so that it can be used for remote connections during scheduled operations during scenarios when user credentials are not available. 
• Backup and restore or replace the symmetric key that is used to encrypt connection stings and credentials.

SQL Server management tools that makes life easier (2)

SQL Server Management Studio
Microsoft first introduced SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in SQL Server 2005. Database developers use this SQL Server management tool to develop T-SQL queries; create objects such as tables, indexes, constraints, stored procedures, functions and triggers; and debug T-SQL code. At the same time, database administrators use SSMS to perform maintenance tasks, such as index rebuild, index recognize, backup and restore, and security management. You can even create various scripts for analysis services and manage SQL Server Database Engine, SQL Server Integration Services and Reporting Services.

SQL Server management tools that makes life easier

Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS)
Microsoft introduced Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) in SQL Server 2005. BIDS is a SQL Server management tool built to help developers who are using SQL Server Integration Services, Reporting Services and Analysis Services. BIDS is nothing but Microsoft Visual Studio along with project templates specific to SQL Server Business Intelligence.

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
(SSDT) is a replacement for SQL Server BIDS, starting from the release of SQL Server 2012. This SQL Server management tool has all the features of BIDS and has certain new enhancements such as:

• The Data Compare feature, which allows you to compare and synchronize data between two databases. 
• Support for SQL Server Unit Testing, which allows one to generate unit tests for SQL Server functions, triggers and stored procedures. 
• Object Explorer, which can create, edit, delete, can rename tables, functions, triggers and stored procedures and can even perform certain level of database administration tasks.