Public SQL database for educational purposes

Question

I am looking for a publicly available SQL database with free access, where one can run some SELECT queries for free on some meaningful data (not item1, item2, item3). Have you seen any? Even better if it came together with some tutorial.

Vendor is not that relevant, as long as one can connect using a generic JDBC client.

Answer 1

I would suggest setting up Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express (or the R2), and adding the Northwind or Adventureworks database. It's pretty big so I'm sure you can play with it.

Answer 2

I suggest to ask your government for some statistical data (just browse their website; there should be plenty). Then import the data in a H2 database and import it. Save the resulting DB files somewhere and give them to your students for their work.

Answer 3

If SQL Server is an option then Northwind/Adventureworks are the standard "training" DBs. Do a search.

For mySql this project looks promising:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/awmysql/

Also, this might be a dupe:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2036395/is-there-a-northwind-type-database-available-for-mysql

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2585643/where-can-i-download-northwind-database-for-postgresql

Answer 4

Try SQL Exercises

Start with learning stage

Answer 5

If you're intersted, Eve Online, a rather large MMO, make their static data (in-game items, NPCs, anything that doesn't really change) available via download.

**edit: http://www.eveonline.com/community/toolkit.asp

It's a very heavily normalized data set, with over a dozen table, and thousands of records. If you want to dive into the deep end of enterprise data warehousing, I'd recommend this.

Downloads as a MS SQL Server 2008 Backup file, which can be imported directly into MS SQL Server 2008 Express (The free edition)

I do not recommend this if you are brand new to databasing, however.