We are looking for feedback on three items for SQL Server Code Name “Denali”. First, are the supported OSes . Second, are the supported upgrade paths . Third, is the way the installer handles unsupported OSes and upgrade paths . Specifically we want to...

Note: This posting only applies to Management Studio 2005. We have corrected the behavior for Management Studio 2008 thus there is no special configuration necessary. One of my co-workers recently responded to a problem a user was having with SQL Server...

A few weeks ago we annouced an adjustment to the release date for SQL2K8. Many blog postings made a big deal about this. There were several consipiracy theories floating around. I'm not really sure why. If you spent more than a minute and thought about...

There are cases where the local cache used by IntelliSense becomes stale. Refreshing the cache is easy but not necessarily obvious. There are two ways to refresh the cache: 1) Go to Edit -> IntelliSense -> Refresh Local Cache and 2) Hit Ctrl+Shift...

Wow! Let me say that again: Wow! What a day it was yesterday. Here are some general comments about the launch. If you just want to know what the 3 surprise features were that I showed yesterday (actually I could only demo two) scroll to the end... There...

I've been wanting to write this blog entry for some time now and just have never found the time to sit down and do it. Well today seem like as good a day as any to do it. I'm not focusing on the entire SQL server development process but rather give you...

Within the PowerShell community there's a firestorm raging over SQLPS.exe our mini-shell that we're introducing in SQL2K8. In his blog Michiel does a good job explaining the mini-shell and provides a script you can use to register the SQL Server provider...

You're sitting at your desk rocking out to great music, you've just installed Management Studio 2008, you expand the Management node and start to click on Activity Monitor... Wait a second, What the %&*$#@, where's Activity Monitor? Did those goofs...

The following write-up was originally an email I sent to Allan White (SQL Server MVP) in the context of a discussion on PowerShell and some of the PowerShell community postings questioning why SQL Server needed PowerShell support @ all given the strength...

As a PM in SQL Server I read through just about every bug entered for the components my team owns. Given the surface area of what my team owns this translates into a lot of bugs. I don't characterize it that way to disrespect the team or the quality of...

In SQL Server 2005 we rewrote Enterprise Studio into what is now called Management Studio. One of the major pieces of work was the consolidation of the administration of all services (Database Services, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, and Integration...

Topics seems to come in droves. I’ve recently read several articles about software quality. The articles approach the topic from different perspectives but the general points are the same, software quality must improve. Steve Jones over at SQL Server...

Yesterday I did a webcast for SQL Server MVPs. Boy I cannot get enough of talking to this group. They are an amazing group of people who have incredible passion for the product. Anyway, during the web cast I was asked if and when we'll do a browser-based...

When it comes to branding and images I'm incredibly critical. IMHO or is that IMCO (In My Critical Opinion) the new SQL Server Branding is fantastic. It is much better than the orange blocks found in the SQL2K5 branding - yuck! My understanding is it...

A few weeks ago I got a new laptop – a Lenovo x301. As is the case with all new machines it came loaded with a bunch of utilities and trial software. Most of the time I just nuke the machine right away and lay down a clean image of the OS. This time I...

Today (9/7/08) Lisa and I welcomed Elliott Edward Jones into the world. Elliott was born at 9:17 am at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, WA. He was 8 pounds 12 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. A a result of a little fluid in his lungs he spent his...

In shameless self promotion the video of the talk I did on PowerShell and SQL Server has been posted to the web. I haven't watched this as I just can't bring myself to sit and watch myself for an hour but the session evaluations were pretty good. Therefore...

Tomorrow is the big day. I have the demos about 95% locked and loaded. Unfortunately one of the cool features isn't going to make the demo. It's just not ready - BUMMER! But two others look like they'll make it. One is a nice thing and will likely get...

Yes, the title is correct, Declarative Management (DMF) is gone! Did I get your attention? Maybe I should elaborate. About 7 months ago we embarked on a naming project for DMF. We knew that DMF was a little too geeky and didn't necessarily describe the...

It's hard to believe the SQL Server 2008 launch is in just a few days. I'm doing the demos for the Manageability session. This has been somewhat of a stressful exercise. Despite everyone thinking this is a point release I'm really struggling with getting...

Does the feedback mechanism on Microsoft Connect really work? By "work" I mean is customer feedback changing the product? From my perspective it's too early to make the call. In SQL2K5 SP2 we tried to address the top issues submitted through connect ...

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1938275,00.asp This is absolutely awesome. As someone who loves customer feedback, the CTP process rocks! It requires us to keep the quality of main extremely high. It provides a rapid feedback loop so...

In case you haven't seen the announcements, the CTP of SQL Server 2005 SP1 is now available for download. This also includes updates to the community pack (ADMOMD.net, DTS Designer, SNAC, AS OLE DB Provider, etc.) and books online. SP1 CTP: http:/...

I was recently talking to a co-worker and I characterized MVPs as evangelists, among other things. I got a very strong reaction - negative. I know full well this posting is going to rub some MVPs the wrong way – like petting a cat against the grain! However...

I’m a huge fan of my Zune and the Zune Marketplace. I have a Zune and my two daughters do as well. I’ve owned several iPods but I just love my Zune more; especially the subscription option for music. $15/month for all the music I want is fantastic. Yes...