Web Edition

High availability

Benefit from log shipping, which helps automatically back up data on separate servers or keep multiple-read servers online to better handle large amounts of web traffic. Keep multiple nodes in sync by using this low-cost edition along with SQL Server 2008 Enterprise instances through one-way merge and transactional replication.

Scalability

Support multitenancy and customers with growing data needs with unlimited memory and database sizes up to 524 PB. Maximize resources with support for up to four CPUs.

Task and policy automation

Ensure standards and compliance across environments with Policy-Based Management. Take advantage of SQL Server Agent to reduce the amount of time spent on administrative tasks by scheduling and executing events such as server backups.

Low monthly cost through Microsoft's Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA)

With SPLA, there are no upfront costs or volume license commitments. You pay only for what you used in the previous month; you have access to the latest versions of software, and you can sell your services worldwide.

Streamlined administration

Manage database environments proactively and efficiently at scale. By using management capabilities, get a better view into resource usage and streamline consolidation and deployment facilities across the application cycle.

Improved productivity

Use Microsoft .NET integration support to quickly write, extend, and publish programs for the web.

Support for PHP

Use the SQL Server Driver for PHP to read and write SQL Server data from within PHP scripts. The driver provides native procedural and PDO interfaces for accessing data in all editions of SQL Server 2005 and later including Microsoft SQL Azure.

Capture and act on complex events in near real time with StreamInsight.

Derive critical information from streaming data such as click-through rates. Monitor, analyze, and act on data in motion and make informed decisions in near real time by using StreamInsight in SQL Server.

Full-text search

Perform fast and flexible indexing for keyword-based queries of text stored in SQL Server. Seamlessly move files from the desktop to the web with database publishing tools.

Advanced programmability

Meet a variety of customer needs with advanced data-type support. Query in native syntax language, such as LINQ. Use Microsoft ADO.NET Data Services support to expose data through web services by using existing tools and processes.