It’s true. I know it sounds wierd, but Microsoft has realeased the second version of their SQL Server database drivers for PHP. I did not have the chance to test the previous version, but it seems that Microsoft wants you to use SQL Server no matter what. Maybe this is done in order to bring some open source PHP developers to the «dark side». At first we want your data, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get your code into ASP.NET.
Some of the interesting things about this release, are the posibility of using SQL Azure, (SQL Server on the cloud) and the new arquitecture (see image above), that integrates API PDO which, according to Microsoft, is the future.
We have to test it. Especifically sending paremeters and performance.
Download and documentation
PHP Microsoft Drivers for SQL Server 2.0 are available on MSDN Download Center and also within Web Platform Installer.
Examples and documentation on all documentation on MSDN.
By the way, it is also available the source code on CodePlex project site.
Photo and information: MS SQL Server Team Blog