Hi, in this post I will explore the difference between product edition, product level and product version in SQL Server,
The above terminologies used, are same for any Microsoft products based .NET.
We usually assume that there is not much difference but when we start exploring, we find they are not same and there is a lot of difference between the product name, product level and product version.
Knowing these are important during activities like and not limited to
1)Setting up of the software's in different environments like development, testing, production etc.
2)While performing backup related activities.
3)Interaction with the client or other stake holders.
and many other senarios
Eg: Select @@VERSON
sample output is as follows-
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (RTM) - 10.50.1600.1 (X64) Apr 2 2009 15:48:46 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation Enterprise Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.1 (Build 7600: )
Analysing the above output, the information can be grouped into three main categories as
ie
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (RTM) - 10.50.1600.1 (X64)
Apr 2 2009 15:48:46 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
Enterprise Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.1 (Build 7600: )
Here,
First line gives the SQL Server version name and the realease type
here, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is the product name
RTM gives the product level
10.50.1600.1 here indicates the product version.
Second line gives the installation date.
Third line indicates the Processor architecture and edition of the SQL Server.
here, Enterprise Edition gives the product edition
Product level - Product level indicates the maturity of the product, its usually a two/three letter abreviation like CTP,RC,RTM or RTW.
CTP stands for Community Technology Preview.
The product at ths stage is generally an incomplete preview of a new technology and is released to the community by Microsoft.
New features might be added or removed from this level.
This is similar to products in the Alpha stage of software life cycle but here microsoft release it to the community.
RC stands for Release Candidate.
The product at this stage is a less bug product.
There are very few chances of features being adding or removed from this level.
This is similar to the products in the Beta stage of software life cycle.
RTM stands for Released to Manufacturing/Market.
The product at this stage is a stable product and can be used in devleopment/production.
RTM name is as the product can now be written in physical medias like CD's/DVD's and shipped to customer.
RTM level products are generally released to the public.
RTW stands for Release to Web
The product at this stage is refered to how the product is delivered now ie downloaded over the web.
Usually products at this level contains the latest updates and patches also
Product version - Product version indicates the updates in a product.
Once a product is release in the market it gets regular updates for bug fixes or some security fixes.
These updates are grouped and released as a new version of the product.
Ex:
10.50.1600.1 version of the SQL Server product was released on 12 Apr 2010 and
10.50.1702.0 version of the product was released on 18 May 2010 by Microsoft and it contains cumulative updates(ie bug fixes for all non security related) similarly
10.50.2811 version of the product was released on 16 Apr 2012 and it contains cumulative updates as well as Service Pack updates (ie hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates)
Below link gives all the versions available for different SQL Server products
http://www.sqlteam.com/article/sql-server-versions
Below link gives terminologies used by microsoft for its product updates
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684
Product edition - Product edition indicates the features available in a product.
Usually there will be multiple features available in a product and not all the features are required for every user, hence the features are grouped and provided as editions to the customer/user.
Also to provide a pricing differentation to the customer, product edition mechanism is used, this is same for every kind of software.
There are different editions like DataCentre, Enterprise Edition, Standard, Web, Work Group, Express etc for SQL Server 2008R2 product.
Some features are supported only in some product editions and may not be supported in other editions like
1)the maximum database size for an enterprise edition is 524 PB where as the maximum database size is 10 GB for a Express edition of SQL ServerR2.
2)SQL Query design tools are available in Enterprise edition but is not available in Express edition of SQL Server R2.
Below link gives detailed comparision of features in different editions of SQL Server 2008R2
http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/sqlserver/product-info/compare.aspx
Further Reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle
The above terminologies used, are same for any Microsoft products based .NET.
We usually assume that there is not much difference but when we start exploring, we find they are not same and there is a lot of difference between the product name, product level and product version.
Knowing these are important during activities like and not limited to
1)Setting up of the software's in different environments like development, testing, production etc.
2)While performing backup related activities.
3)Interaction with the client or other stake holders.
and many other senarios
Eg: Select @@VERSON
sample output is as follows-
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (RTM) - 10.50.1600.1 (X64) Apr 2 2009 15:48:46 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation Enterprise Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.1
Analysing the above output, the information can be grouped into three main categories as
ie
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (RTM) - 10.50.1600.1 (X64)
Apr 2 2009 15:48:46 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
Enterprise Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.1
Here,
First line gives the SQL Server version name and the realease type
here, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is the product name
RTM gives the product level
10.50.1600.1 here indicates the product version.
Second line gives the installation date.
Third line indicates the Processor architecture and edition of the SQL Server.
here, Enterprise Edition gives the product edition
Product level - Product level indicates the maturity of the product, its usually a two/three letter abreviation like CTP,RC,RTM or RTW.
CTP stands for Community Technology Preview.
The product at ths stage is generally an incomplete preview of a new technology and is released to the community by Microsoft.
New features might be added or removed from this level.
This is similar to products in the Alpha stage of software life cycle but here microsoft release it to the community.
RC stands for Release Candidate.
The product at this stage is a less bug product.
There are very few chances of features being adding or removed from this level.
This is similar to the products in the Beta stage of software life cycle.
RTM stands for Released to Manufacturing/Market.
The product at this stage is a stable product and can be used in devleopment/production.
RTM name is as the product can now be written in physical medias like CD's/DVD's and shipped to customer.
RTM level products are generally released to the public.
RTW stands for Release to Web
The product at this stage is refered to how the product is delivered now ie downloaded over the web.
Usually products at this level contains the latest updates and patches also
Product version - Product version indicates the updates in a product.
Once a product is release in the market it gets regular updates for bug fixes or some security fixes.
These updates are grouped and released as a new version of the product.
Ex:
10.50.1600.1 version of the SQL Server product was released on 12 Apr 2010 and
10.50.1702.0 version of the product was released on 18 May 2010 by Microsoft and it contains cumulative updates(ie bug fixes for all non security related) similarly
10.50.2811 version of the product was released on 16 Apr 2012 and it contains cumulative updates as well as Service Pack updates (ie hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates)
Below link gives all the versions available for different SQL Server products
http://www.sqlteam.com/article/sql-server-versions
Below link gives terminologies used by microsoft for its product updates
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684
Product edition - Product edition indicates the features available in a product.
Usually there will be multiple features available in a product and not all the features are required for every user, hence the features are grouped and provided as editions to the customer/user.
Also to provide a pricing differentation to the customer, product edition mechanism is used, this is same for every kind of software.
There are different editions like DataCentre, Enterprise Edition, Standard, Web, Work Group, Express etc for SQL Server 2008R2 product.
Some features are supported only in some product editions and may not be supported in other editions like
1)the maximum database size for an enterprise edition is 524 PB where as the maximum database size is 10 GB for a Express edition of SQL ServerR2.
2)SQL Query design tools are available in Enterprise edition but is not available in Express edition of SQL Server R2.
Below link gives detailed comparision of features in different editions of SQL Server 2008R2
http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/sqlserver/product-info/compare.aspx
Further Reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle
