Yesterday Microsoft released the SQL Server 2008 SP2 CTP which includes all cumulative updates up to SQL Server 2008 SP1 cumulative update package 8.

What makes this release interesting to evaluate (obviously only in non-production environments) for me is the inclusion of support for enlisting SQL Server 2008 instances into the SQL Server Utility and Data-tier Application support.

• SQL Server Utility The SQL Server 2008 R2 Utility supports SQL Server 2008 instances that have SP2 installed. The SQL Server Utility models SQL Server-related entities in a unified view. Utility Explorer and SQL Server Utility viewpoints in SQL Server Management Studio provide administrators a holistic view of resource health through an instance of SQL Server that serves as a utility control point (UCP). 
• Data-tier Applications SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2008 R2 supports all data-tier application (DAC) operations for SQL Server 2008 instances that have SP2 installed. DAC is an entity that contains all databases and instance objects used by an application. A DAC provides a single unit for authoring, deploying, and managing the data-tier objects instead of having to manage them separately. A DAC allows tighter integration of data-tier development with the development of the associated application code. It also gives administrators an application level view of resource usage in their systems through the utility control point.

One additional piece that for me was unexpected was the inclusion of the

• Reporting Services in SharePoint Integrated Mode (Feature Pack) The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint Products 2007 allows you to connect to SQL Server 2008 R2 Report Servers.

For more details and the service pack itself check out the download.

<Gary>