Using the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server 

This section describes features and behaviors that are specific to the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server.

The .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server provides access to a SQL Server version 7.0 or later database using its own internal protocol. The functionality of the data provider is designed to be similar to that of the .NET Framework data providers for OLE DB, ODBC, and Oracle.

In This Section

• Enumerating Instances of SQL Server
  Describes how to enumerate active instances of SQL Server 2000 and later.

• Performing Bulk Copy Operations
  Describes bulk copy functionality for the .NET Data Provider for SQL Server.

• Leveraging System.Transactions
  Describes System.Transactions integration with SQL Server 2005 for working with distributed transactions.

• Working with SqlTypes
  Describes new features and functionality for using System.Data.SqlTypes.

• Using Query Notifications
  Describes how .NET Framework applications can request notification when the data currently in a result set has changed in the underlying database.

• Using Multiple Active Result Sets
  Describes how to have more than one SqlDataReader open on a connection when each instance of SqlDataReader is started from a separate command.

• Creating and Using User-Defined Types
  Describes how to create user-defined types (UDTs) and how to work with UDT data.

• Working with Large Value Types
  Describes how varchar, nvarchar, varbinary, and xml data types are supported in SQL Server 2005.

• Using Snapshot Isolation
  Describes support for snapshot isolation, a SQL Server 2005 row versioning mechanism designed to reduce blocking by storing a version of data that one application can read while another application is modifying the same data within a transaction.

• Using Database Mirroring
  Describes the new database mirroring functionality in SQL Server 2005.

• Using Provider Statistics
  Describes support for run-time statistics in the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server.

• Working with SqlXml
  Describes how to work with XML data retrieved from SQL Server.

• Performing Asynchronous Operations
  Describes how to perform asynchronous database operations using an API that is modeled after the asynchronous model used by the .NET Framework.

• Using Connection Pooling
  Describes how connection pooling can enhance performance and scalability for database applications.

• Working with User Instances
  Describes support for user instances in SQL Server Express 2005 using the .NET Data Provider for SQL Server (System.Data.SqlClient).

Related Sections

• What's New in ADO.NET
  Introduces features that are new in ADO.NET.

• Overview of ADO.NET
  Provides an introduction to the design and components of ADO.NET.

• Securing ADO.NET Applications
  Describes secure coding practices when using ADO.NET.

• Using DataSets in ADO.NET
  Describes how to create and use DataSets, typed DataSets, DataTables, and DataViews.

• Connecting and Retrieving Data in ADO.NET
  Describes how to connect to a data source and retrieve data, including DataReaders and DataAdapters.

• Modifying Data in ADO.NET
  Describes how to modify data in a database and how to use transactions.

• Using the .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle
  Describes features and behaviors that are specific to the .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle.

• Using SQL Server Common Language Runtime Integration
  Describes how data can be accessed from within a common language runtime (CLR) database object in SQL Server 2005.

• Writing Provider Independent Code in ADO.NET
  Describes generic classes that allow you to write provider-independent code in ADO.NET.

• Performing General Tasks in ADO.NET
  Describes how to use various general-purpose features of ADO.NET.

• Finding Additional ADO.NET Information
  Provides links to additional online information about ADO.NET.

See Also

Other Resources

ADO.NET