Microsoft SQL Server 2000 is extended it's performance,reliability,functionality than SQL Server7.0. OLAP Services in SQL7.0 are now Called in SQLServer2000 as SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services. Analysis Services also includes a new data mining component.
The Repository component available in SQL Server version 7.0 is now called Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Meta Data Services.

XML Support:
SQL2000 is supporting XML. The Relational data now you can retrive in XML format.

Since every one are intrested to move towards .Net, Try to get XML data from SQL Server Directly.

Process:
Get XML with the SELECT Statement
Transfer or Send XML over the Internet
Retrieving XML Formatted Data from SQL Server
Finally make XML Templates and use them.

Locking:
SQL Server enforces locking automatically, you can design applications that are more efficient by understanding and customizing locking in your applications.