The Query Analyzer (QA) was the query tool provided with SQL Server up until SQL Server 2000. In SQL Server 2005 and above it was superceded by (SSMS) SQL Server Management Studio . If you would like to detect any performance problems in some of your queries you can use the execution plan to determine what is causing the performance problem.

The SQL Server Management Studio is pretty much home base when administering a SQL Server. It provides a variety of functionality for managing your server using a relatively easy-to-use graphical user interface. Branched off of the code base of Visual Studio IDE, it combines a myriad of functionality that used to be in separate tools. For the purposes of this course, I am not going to cover everything that the Management Studio has to offer, but here is a quick rundown of the things you can do:

1. Create, edit, and delete databases and database objects
2. Query your database using T-SQL
3. Manage scheduled tasks, such as backups and the execution of SSIS package runs
4. Display current activity, such as who is logged on, what objects are locked, and from whichclient they are running
5. Manage security, including such items as roles, logins, and remote and linked servers
6. Initiate and manage the Database Mail Service
7. Create and manage full-text search catalogs
8. Manage confi guration settings for the server
9. Initiate an instance of the new PowerShell console
10. Create and manage publishing and subscribing databases for replication
11. Manage data processing in cubes or tabular databases for SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)
12. Create queries against a multidimensional SSAS database in MDX, or against a tabular SSAS database in DAX