What is MsSQL Server and How to change MsSQL server user password in Plesk?

What is MsSQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server (MsSQL Server) is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It is designed to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, which may run either on the same computer or on another computer across a network (including the internet). SQL Server is commonly used for managing and storing data in various types of applications, from small desktop applications to large enterprise systems. It supports SQL (Structured Query Language) for querying and managing databases, and it offers a range of features such as transaction processing, business intelligence, data warehousing, and high availability options.

What are the features of MsSQL Server:

Microsoft SQL Server (MsSQL Server) offers a wide range of features that cater to various database management needs. Here are some key features of SQL Server:

1. Relational Database Management System (RDBMS): SQL Server is built as a robust RDBMS, supporting the relational model for structuring data in tables with rows and columns.
2. Transact-SQL (T-SQL): It includes Transact-SQL, which is Microsoft’s implementation of SQL. T-SQL adds programming constructs such as variables, control-of-flow statements, and error handling to the standard SQL language.
3. Data Integrity: SQL Server ensures data integrity through features such as constraints (like primary keys, foreign keys, and unique constraints), data validation rules, and transaction management (with support for ACID properties – Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability).
4. High Availability: SQL Server provides various high availability solutions such as Always On Availability Groups, database mirroring, and failover clustering to ensure minimal downtime and data protection.
5. Scalability: It supports scalability both vertically (by adding more resources to a single server) and horizontally (through features like partitioning, sharding, and distributed databases).
6. Security: SQL Server offers robust security features including authentication methods, authorization mechanisms, encryption (both data at rest and data in transit), and auditing capabilities to protect data against unauthorized access and breaches.
7. Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: SQL Server comes with integrated BI tools like SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) for online analytical processing (OLAP), and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) for creating and presenting reports.
8. In-Memory Capabilities: SQL Server includes in-memory technologies such as In-Memory OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) and Columnstore indexes for improved performance and scalability of certain workloads.
9. Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and technologies such as .NET Framework, Azure cloud services, Excel, Power BI, and Visual Studio, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for database development and management.
10. Developer Tools: SQL Server offers various tools for developers, including SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for database administration, SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for database development, and Azure Data Studio for cross-platform database management and development.

Why we are using MsSQL Server:

Organizations and individuals choose to use Microsoft SQL Server (MsSQL Server) for a variety of reasons, depending on their specific needs and requirements. Here are some common reasons why SQL Server is preferred:

1. Reliability and Stability: SQL Server is known for its reliability and stability. It has a robust architecture that ensures data integrity, transactional consistency, and minimal downtime, making it suitable for mission-critical applications.
2. Scalability: SQL Server offers scalability options, allowing businesses to scale their databases as their data volumes and user loads grow. It supports both vertical scaling (adding more resources to a single server) and horizontal scaling (using features like partitioning or sharding).
3. Performance Optimization: SQL Server provides tools and features for performance optimization, such as indexing, query optimization, in-memory technologies (e.g., In-Memory OLTP, Columnstore indexes), and performance monitoring, ensuring efficient database operations.
4. Security: SQL Server includes robust security features such as authentication mechanisms, authorization controls, encryption (at rest and in transit), auditing capabilities, and compliance tools. These features help protect sensitive data and meet regulatory requirements.
5. Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: SQL Server seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and technologies such as Windows Server, Azure cloud services, .NET Framework, Visual Studio, Excel, and Power BI. This integration simplifies development, deployment, and management tasks within the Microsoft ecosystem.
6. Business Intelligence (BI) Capabilities: SQL Server offers integrated BI tools such as SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) for ETL, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) for OLAP, and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) for creating and presenting reports. These tools enable organizations to analyze data, gain insights, and make data-driven decisions.
7. Developer-Friendly Tools: SQL Server provides developer-friendly tools such as SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), and Azure Data Studio, making database development, administration, and debugging easier for developers.
8. Support and Community: SQL Server has a large user community, extensive documentation, and support resources provided by Microsoft and the community. This support ecosystem helps organizations resolve issues, access tutorials, and stay updated with the latest developments.

What is Plesk

Plesk is a comprehensive web hosting control panel and server management tool developed by Plesk International GmbH. It is designed to simplify the management of web servers and hosting services for both system administrators and website owners. Plesk offers a user-friendly interface with a wide range of features to help users manage various aspects of web hosting, including website deployment, server configuration, email management, and security.

How to change MsSQL server user password in Plesk?

To change the password for a Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) user in Plesk, you can follow these steps:

1. Log in to Plesk: Log in to your Plesk control panel using your username and password.
2. Access the Database: Once logged in, navigate to the “Databases” section. Here, you will see a list of databases associated with your Plesk account.
3. Select the Database: Find the MSSQL database for which you want to change the user password and click on its name to access its details.
4. Manage Users: In the database details page, look for an option to manage database users. This option may be labeled as “Users” or “Database Users.”
5. Select the User: Locate the MSSQL user for whom you want to change the password and click on its name or edit icon to proceed.
6. Change Password: In the user management interface, you should find an option to change the user’s password. This option is typically labeled as “Change Password,” “Edit Password,” or similar.
7. Enter New Password: Enter the new password for the MSSQL user in the provided fields. Make sure to follow any password requirements or guidelines specified by Plesk or your hosting provider.
8. Save Changes: After entering the new password, save your changes. This action should update the password for the selected MSSQL user in Plesk.
9. Test the New Password: Once the password is changed, you can test it by connecting to the MSSQL database using the updated credentials to ensure that the password change was successful.