Hello, i am interested in learning Microsoft SQL, and possible take a low level cert. I would like to start off as inexpensive as possible, so this weekend i will be installing, and configuring MySQL. Q: Are the commands and coding the same as Microsoft SQL? Will i be able to start out on MySQL, and expand into MS SQL? Q: Are the microsoft text books a good source, or should i look into other publishers? Currently i am a Network Engineer, and main play with Cisco routers, and switches, so i do not get out much. SQL has interested me for years. Any suggestions are welcomed. Thank you.

You would be much better off installing SQL Server express from microsoft's web site. It is nearly identical to SQL Server, it just has a limited number of connections. MySQL is fairly close in SQL syntax, but different in a lot of ways that would come up on a cert. Good luck, -SN

Thanks for the help.