Overview of the SharePoint databases

If you want to take a look at the SharePoint databases, you will also need the MS SQL Management Studio. I personally had some problems when downloading and trying to install Management Studio Express. Finally, after reading some posts, I concluded it is possible by using Microsoft's Web Platform Installer. Search for 'management studio' and start the installation.



Then start the management studio and connect to your local SQL installation.


INLINESP2010DEV is my machine name
SHAREPOINT is the named instance installed by the SharePoint 2010 standalone wizard

As you can see you will have several different SharePoint databases. Per configured service application you have a separate database with a GUID (if you install using PowerShell you have more control over these names). Besides that you will also have a content database (holds a lot of the SharePoint files and will also hold all information that users will create).