Beginning Microsoft SQL Server 2008 ... - S3 Tech Training

@@VERSION
Returns the current version of SQL Server as well as the processor type and OS architecture.
For example:
gives:
SELECT @@VERSION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (RTM) - 10.0.1600.22 (X64)
Jul 9 2008 14:17:44
Copyright (c) 1988-2008 Microsoft Corporation
Developer Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.0 (Build 6001: Service Pack 1)
(1 row(s) affected)
Unfortunately, this doesn’t return the information into any kind of structured field arrangement, so you
have to parse it if you want to use it to test for specific information.
Consider using the xp_msver system sproc instead — it returns information in such a way that you can
more easily retrieve specific information from the results.
Cryptographic Functions
These are functions that help support the encryption, decryption, digital signing, and digital signature
validation. Some of these are new with SQL Server 2008, and some came with SQL Server 2005. Notice
that there are duplicates of most functions from a general use point of view, but that they are different in
that one supports a symmetric key and the duplicate (usually with an “Asym” in the name) supports an
asymmetrical key.
Now, you may ask “why would I need these?” The answer is as varied as the possible applications for
SQL Server. The quick answer though is this: Any time you’re sending or accepting data that you want
to protect during transport. For example, since SQL Server supports HTTP endpoints, and, from that,
hosting of its own web services, you may want to accept or return encrypted information with a client of
your web service. Perhaps a more basic example is simply that you’ve chosen to encrypt the data in your
database, and now you need to get it back out in a useful manner.
AsymKey_ID
Given the name of an asymmetric key, this function returns an int that corresponds to the related ID
from the database. The syntax is simple:
AsymKey_ID(‘’)
You must have permissions to the key in question to use this function.
Apendix A: System Functions
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