Distributed Queries
Distributed queries access data from multiple heterogeneous data sources. These data sources can be stored on either the same or different computers. Microsoft SQL Server supports distributed queries by using OLE DB.
SQL Server users can use distributed queries to access the following:
Distributed data stored in multiple instances of SQL Server.
Heterogeneous data stored in various relational and nonrelational data sources accessed by using an OLE DB provider.
OLE DB providers expose data in tabular objects called rowsets. SQL Server allows rowsets from OLE DB providers to be referenced in Transact-SQL statements as if they were SQL Server tables.
Tables and views in external data sources can be referenced directly in SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE Transact-SQL statements. Because distributed queries use OLE DB as the underlying interface, distributed queries can access traditional relational DBMS systems that have SQL query processors, and can also access data managed by data sources of varying capabilities and sophistication. As long as the software that owns the data exposes the data in a tabular rowset through an OLE DB provider, the data can be used in distributed queries.
Note
Using distributed queries in SQL Server is similar to the linked table functionality through ODBC. This functionality, which was supported previously by Microsoft Access, is now built into SQL Server using OLE DB as the interface to external data.
The following illustration shows the connections between a client computer, an instance of SQL Server, and an OLE DB provider.
Important Topics About Distributed Queries
The following table lists topics that provide information to help you understand and use distributed queries to access data that is either on separate instances of SQL Server or on data sources other than SQL Server.
For information about |
See |
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Configuring OLE DB providers and linked servers |
|
Distributed queries in distributed transactions |
|
Specific OLE DB providers |
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Language support for OLE DB providers |
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Linked servers |
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ODBC and distributed queries |
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Performance issues |
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Developer reference for the OLE DB provider |
|
Statistics requirements |
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Rules and restrictions for distributed queries and linked servers, and for allowable Transact-SQL statements. |