SQL-DMF APIs
Applications can use one of three APIs to access the core functionality of SQL-DMF: SQL Namespace, SQL Distributed Management Objects, and Data Transformation Services. These APIs are implemented as sets of dual-interface COM interfaces.
SQL Distributed Management Objects
The SQL Distributed Management Objects (SQL-DMO) API is composed of a set of objects that encapsulate the administrative attributes of the entities, such as tables, users, and views, found in Microsoft® SQL Server™ databases. SQL-DMO abstracts the use of DDL, system stored procedures, registry information, and operating-system resources. SQL-DMO can be used to program all administration and configuration tasks in SQL Server.
Data Transformation Services
The Data Transformation Services (DTS) API exposes the services provided by SQL Server to aid in building data warehouses and data marts. These services provide the ability to transfer and transform data between heterogeneous OLE DB and ODBC data sources. Data from objects or the result sets of queries can be transferred at regularly scheduled times or intervals, or on an as-required basis.
Windows Management Instrumentation
The SQL Server 2000 compact disc contains support for a new API that will allow you to administer instances of SQL Server using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). WMI is a scalable Windows 2000 component with an object-oriented API that lets management applications and scripts monitor, configure, and control the operating system and devices, services, and applications in a Windows network. Using standard Windows security, WMI allows only properly authorized users to manage the system. WMI core components are also available for Windows NT® 4.0, Windows® 95, and Windows 98. For more information about the WMI support for these operating systems, see the MSDN® page at Microsoft Web site.
A component, such as SQL Server, enables WMI support by supplying a WMI provider and defining a WMI class schema. The schema models the objects in the component that can be managed using WMI. SQL Server 2000 includes a SQL Server WMI provider and a schema class model that maps instances of SQL Server 2000 to WMI classes. The SQL Server WMI schema models objects such as databases and tables. The SQL Server WMI implementation provides management functions such as:
- Create, change, or delete managed objects. For example, create a database.
- Administer managed objects. For example, back up databases and logs.
- Enumerate managed objects. For example, list all the tables in a database.
- Retrieve information about a specific managed object. For example, determine whether full-text indexing is enabled on the Customers table.
- Query managed objects that meet a specific criterion. For example, list all encrypted stored procedures.
- Execute methods defined for managed objects. For example, execute a method that bulk copies data from a table.
- Generate events when a managed object is created, changed, or deleted (for example, raise an event when a database option is changed).
- Describe relationships between managed objects (for example, identify which logins are authorized to access a database).
All WMI data is available remotely and is fully scriptable. The SQL Server 2000 WMI implementation maps over the SQL-DMO API, but does not support the management of replication. The SQL Server WMI implementation can be used with SQL Server 7.0.
The SQL Server WMI support is not installed by SQL Server 2000 Setup. All of the WMI materials, including a separate setup and documentation, are included in the folder \x86\OTHER\wmi on the SQL Server 2000 compact disc.
SQL Namespace
The SQL Namespace (SQL-NS) API exposes the user interface (UI) elements of SQL Server Enterprise Manager. This allows applications to include SQL Server Enterprise Manager UI elements such as dialog boxes and wizards.