SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client Features

In addition to exposing features of the Windows (formerly Microsoft) Data Access Components (WDAC), SQL Server Native Client also implements many other features to expose SQL Server functionality.

Note

WDAC does not expose certain features introduced beginning in SQL Server 2005; you must use SQL Server Native Client to use these features.

In This Section

• What's New in SQL Server Native Client
  Lists the significant new SQL Server Native Client features.

• Using Database Mirroring
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports the use of mirrored databases, which is the ability to keep a copy, or mirror, of a SQL Server database on a standby server.

• Performing Asynchronous Operations
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports asynchronous operations, which is the ability to return immediately without blocking on the calling thread.

• Using Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS)
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports multiple active result sets (MARS). MARS enables you to execute and receive multiple result sets using a single database connection

• Using XML Data Types
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports the XML data type, which is a XML-based data type that can be used as a column type, variable type, parameter type, or function return type.

• Using User-Defined Types
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports User-Defined Types (UDT), which extends the SQL type system by allowing you to store objects and custom data structures in a SQL Server database.

• Using Large Value Types
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports large value data types, which are large object data types (LOB).

• Changing Passwords Programmatically
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports the handling of expired passwords so that passwords can now be changed on the client without administrator involvement.

• Working with Snapshot Isolation
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports the enhancement to row versioning that improves database performance by avoiding reader-writer blocking scenarios.

• Working with Query Notifications
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports consumer notification on rowset modification.

• Performing Bulk Copy Operations
  Discusses how SQL Server Native Client supports bulk copy operations that allow the transfer of large amounts of data into or out of a SQL Server table or view.

• Using Encryption Without Validation
  Discusses how to use SQL Server Native Client to encrypt data sent to the server without validating the certificate.

• Table-Valued Parameters (SQL Server Native Client)
  Discusses SQL Server Native Client support for the table-valued parameters.

• Large CLR User-Defined Types
  Discusses support for large common language runtime (CLR) user-defined types (UDTs).

• FILESTREAM Support
  Discusses support for the enhanced FILESTREAM feature.

• Service Principal Name (SPN) Support in Client Connections
  Discusses how support for service principal names (SPNs) has been extended to enable mutual authentication across all protocols.

• Sparse Columns Support in SQL Server Native Client
  Discusses SQL Server Native Client support for sparse columns.

• Date/Time Improvements
  Discusses support for the date and time data types.

See Also

Other Resources

SQL Server 2008 R2 Native Client Programming

ODBC How-to Topics

OLE DB How-to Topics