Quote Originally Posted by Molon_Labe-1775 View Post
This. Get an instance of linux / unix up and running and install mysql on it.
There are more books out there than you can shake a stick at. One of your best resources will be SQL and MYSQL user forums and groups.
OP said he's looking specifically to learn MS-SQL. MySQL would give him hands on experience with the guts of SQL itself, the SELECT UPDATE DELETE CREATE that is really the meat and potatoes.

However he said he doesn't want to learn it in conjunction with programming, so I'm guessing that part is less important than the noodly bits around administration, and in that regard MySQL won't help much with MSSQL

H.