I provision and refresh my SQL Server labs on at least a monthly basis. Naturally, it helps to have as much automated as possible. But automating the services isn’t the only thing I need. I also need databases with dummy data. There are a number of sample databases that have been created for SQL Server over the years that work just fine.
Therefore, from Northwind and pubs to WideWorldImporters, I’ve compiled where to get those databases and what you need to know in order to use them yourselves. For instance, the Northwind database does not create a sample database. It just creates the objects in the database currently connected to (even if it’s master) and loads those objects with data.
Article link: https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/11456/microsoft-sql-server-sample-databases/