Among the many relational database management systems, SQL Server is one of the leaders. It is developed and supported by the giant Microsoft. The RDBMS enjoys exceptional popularity – it is highly secure, easy to install and configure. Besides, it offers excellent functionality in several editions, both free and paid, for any purposes and resources.

Lots of companies use SQL Server. Even more database specialists with different specializations need convenient tools to operate the SQL Server-based databases. The most helpful database tools for SQL Server will be the focus of our article.

Microsoft SQL Server: professional tools for development and monitoring jobs

Here we are going to examine the following software solutions:

• Microsoft’s SQL Server Management Studio
• Microsoft’s Visual Studio
• dbForge Studio for SQL Server
• Developer and DBA tools (ApexSQL)
• DBeaver
• ●      SQL Toolbelt (RedGate)
• Notepad ++
• Spotlight on SQL Server
• Prometheus
• Zabbix

Let us start.

SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the best-known product for working with SQL Server. It is multi-functional, convenient, and free of charge. Many experts find it the most comprehensive product for SQL Server jobs. Besides, it is Microsoft’s own creation, and you will always get the latest software version and the detailed SSMS documentation at the official portal.

SSMS offers a bunch of features to perform all kinds of tasks related to the SQL Server database creation and operation:

• Creating, modifying, and deleting databases
• Importing and exporting data
• Composing and executing all kinds of SQL queries
• Setting up all types of backup and restore procedures
• Performance reports
• Working with AlwaysOn availability groups
• Setting up and monitoring query store
• Setting up and monitoring database engine logs
• Profiler and Extended events to monitor the performance
• Multi-editing

Etc.

Besides, SSMS offers such beneficial options as adding and grouping SQL Server instances (Registered Server) and creating subgroups. Further, users can send queries to such groups and subgroups or upload configured registered servers to share them with other developers, testers, and administrators.

Visual Studio Editor for SQL Server

Another product of Microsoft that is mostly mentioned together with SSMS. In brief, it is a compelling product that allows users to start, run, and complete software development jobs. With its help, developers can create desktop and mobile applications, websites, and web services.

Visual Studio serves for performing the following tasks mostly:

• View and edit the databases and codes in one whole
• Compare, edit, import, and export database schemas

On the other hand, the functionality of this tool does not include all the features and tools necessary to develop new software. Besides, some present features have limited capabilities to do all jobs correctly. It is possible to enhance the functionality of the product with different add-ins, though.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

This product is one of the most popular SSMS alternatives from the famous dbForge database tools line. As a stand-alone solution, it complements the functionality of SSMS and makes it much more comprehensive. The software includes all the features for dealing with SQL Server databases (every feature is also available as separate software).

The following tasks are much easier with dbForge Studio for SQL Server:

• All kinds of database manipulations (create from scratch, edit and monitor existing databases, back up and restore, etc.)
• Database data and schema comparing and synchronizing
• Writing any SQL queries with Intellisense auto-completion and formatting templates to do it faster and keep up to the standards
• Comparison and synchronization of the database schema and data
• Managing changes in SQL Server databases through the source control systems
• Generating test data for databases
• Documenting the databases in details

And many more functions

The dbForge Studio for SQL Server package allows for implementing the database CI processes with full functionality. In general, this product is the most potent solution of all SSMS alternatives.

Developer and DBA tools (ApexSQL)

These popular products are enhancements that you can implement into SSMS and Visual Studio to use their advanced functionality in the habitual environment. The purposes of these tools differ according to the target users.

ApexSQL Developer tools are meant for the tasks on development and testing, among them:

• Designing databases from scratch
• Comparison of the data and schema in databases
• Formatting of the SQL codes
• Analyzing and documenting the databases
• Generating meaningful test data
• Unit testing
• Version control support

And other features

ApexSQL DBA tools have another scope which is the SQL Server administration:

• Backing up and restoring databases
• Optimizing indexes
• Reading transaction logs

Used together, ApexSQL tools for developers and DBAs allow the users to achieve comprehensive continuous integration and delivery processes.

DBeaver

DBeaver is popular as a free tool for SQL Server management and administration (the paid version is also available). It provides decent functionality in the free edition, making it one of the favorite choices for SQL Server users. The handiest options it provides are the following:

• Designing new databases
• Code writing and formatting
• Dashboards
• Searching for database objects
• Transaction Logs

This basic functionality is helpful by all means. However, this software does not have advanced options for developers, testers, and administrators that are present in other database tools.

SQL Toolbelt (RedGate)

Another powerful, multi-functional solution is designed for SQL Server databases. It is favored by developers, administrators, and testers due to its powerful features that help with all database-related tasks:

• Code analyzing and formatting
• Data and schema comparison in databases
• Data backups and recovery
• Index Manager
• Monitoring SQL Servers
• Generation of test data
• Continuous integration and auto-deployment of databases
• Searching for objects

Etc.

The RedGate product has impressive functionality, but it does not exceed the competitive products significantly. It is more on the level with competitors, but it is more expensive. That would be its biggest drawback.

Notepad ++

This simple and free editor works with T-SQL scripts as well. Of course, this app’s functionality is very limited in comparison with full-functional IDEs. However, you can do the tasks on viewing and editing scripts using Notepad++. As it supports many programming languages, you can be sure to get the scripts displayed and manipulated correctly.

This simple editor is fine when you only need to edit the contents, search for particular code fragments, or compare large files. For instance, SSMS can freeze when displaying large codes with thousands of code lines. Notepad++ processes such code chunks effortlessly.

SQL Server Monitoring Tools

SQL Server monitoring is among the most crucial jobs. There are specialized tools meant for this specific purpose, and we are going to review them separately. So, the following solutions will be in our focus:

• Spotlight on SQL Server
• Prometheus
• Zabbix

Now, let us have a closer look at them.

Spotlight on SQL Server

Spotlight on SQL Server is a monitoring and diagnostic tool that helps you quickly find and fix the current problems on SQL Server, including both the server and database issues. This tool offers decent functionality to perform the following tasks:

• Collect the basic stats data on both the server and databases located on it
• Collect and analyze the information on queries and their execution plans
• Correlate the queries performance with all other meaningful metrics, such as CPU performance, logical reads, etc.
• Detect and analyze index fragmentation
• Create and adjust standard and custom alerts for any metric with handy templates
• Explore and display queries at any specific point in time
• Provide visual reports on all metrics

Etc.

Besides the Spotlight on SQL Server solution, you might also have heard of Foglight for SQL Server. It is a more advanced, cross-platform software with multiple databases’ support.

Zabbix

Zabbix is a popular open-source monitoring tool that delivers detailed information about the SQL Server performance and triggers that caused this or that issue. There is a convenient visual dashboard with many graphics and rich possibilities for customization.

The most significant drawback of Zabbix is the absence of the option to show the query at a specific point in time.

Prometheus/Grafana

Prometheus is the solution for SQL Server that lets the operators monitor the server’s vital signs. It is mostly used with the Grafana client side. Together, these solutions provide insights into SQL Server time-driven data. Prometheus can export the data and store it to create alerts and a dashboard for viewing the server health. The product is cross-platform, and it covers the server and database monitoring tasks.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve collected and presented the best-known, functional, and user-friendly solutions for SQL Server for your consideration. Whether you are a database developer, analyst, or administrator, you will make your life easier with them if you’ve found a suitable solution for your needs.

Some specialists use the default Microsoft’s solutions with additional third-party software to complete them. If you prefer an SSMS alternative with advanced functionality, you might choose a toolset like dbForge Studio for SQL Server or DBeaver. In any case, it is up to you to decide which option suits you best. All tools mentioned in this article are available for testing and evaluation.