Microsoft SQL Server 2014 now available to direct OEMs
Posted By Partha Srinivasan
Product Manager, Windows Embedded Server and SQL products
Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems (binary identical to Microsoft SQL Server 2014) is now available for all of our Embedded Direct OEMs to license for electronic download via the Software Order Center within the next 24–48 hours.
OEMs license Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems for their database needs for building server appliances, the purpose-built devices used for managing industry devices and services. Coupled with Windows Server 2012 R2 for Embedded Systems, Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems provides a comprehensive database platform that serves as the foundation for data analytics and operational intelligence in next-generation intelligent systems. With the ability to scale from applications to the cloud and anywhere in between, Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems provides greater uptime, superior performance, enhanced security features and stunning data-visualization capabilities.
Why would server appliances need a database solution? To meet storage management and data analytics needs. Let us see some examples in a few industries: In health, PACS machines in hospitals generate and store large and complex image data, which could be stored and analyzed to improve overall system performance and the patient experience. In the video-surveillance industry, recording devices such as NVRs and DVRs store camera video data in a database used by video management software for developing video analytics to improve operational efficiency, among many other uses. In retail, store servers use a database for storing all the data coming in from point-of-sale devices, kiosks, handheld devices and more and then analyze it to develop business intelligence that leads to improved customer experiences, personnel training programs, driving new campaigns, etc.
The above-mentioned server appliances require a database platform that provides high performance, is easy to manage and maintain, and enables better security while keeping the cost of ownership low. With new features such as delayed durability for noncritical workloads, new cardinality estimation design, high availability with database mirroring, log shipping and failover clustering, Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems meets the industry devices’ needs. It’s also the most widely used database1 and has had the least database vulnerability for five years in a row.2
You can read about today’s news on the Official Microsoft Blog, and check out the SQL Server blog to learn more about this great new product. Haven’t had an opportunity to evaluate the product? Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems is available for evaluation. Microsoft SQL Server 2014 for Embedded Systems will be generally available on April 1; you can learn more here.
1 Market share data from IDC 2013
2 The National Institute of Standards and Technology Comprehensive Vulnerability Database, April 17, 2013