SQL Server Migration Assistant 5.0 is now available. It can be used to simplify the automation of migrating of Oracle, Sybase, MySQL and Microsoft Access databases to SQL server and/or SQL Azure. For more details see the SQL Server Team blog here .

Andrew J. Brust from Blue Badge Insights, Inc. has just published an outstandingly detailed paper on NoSQL and the features of Windows Azure that are NoSQL in nature or that are NoSQL-like. Starting with a discussion of NoSQL in general and the types of NoSQL databases (Key-Value Stores, Document Stores...

The Data-tier Application Framework (DAC Fx)  is a set of tools, API’s and services designed to dramatically simplify the development, deployment and management of SQL Server and SQL Azure database schemas. DAC Fx was introduced in SQL Server 2008 R2 as part of an improvement category known as ...

Announcing the Metro Early Adoption Program for SQL Server Code Name "Denali". The Metro Early Adoption Program for SQL Server Code Name “Denali” is open for nominations.  This program helps developers build real projects and solutions on the next major release of SQL Server code named...

SQL Azure database users have a simpler way to archive SQL Azure and SQL Server databases, or to migrate on-premises SQL Server databases to SQL Azure . Import and export services through the Data-tier Application (DAC) framework make archival and migration much easier. The import and export features...

Cool story on Flickchart on Mashable. 117 Million ratings? Wow! 2 Guys, 1 Passion Project & a Gold Mine of Movie Data This isn’t your average startup story, nor our Nathan Chase and Jeremy Thompson your average founders. No, this is the story of movie ranking engine Flickchart, a hobby project dreamt...

HP and Microsoft have announced the HP Business Decision Appliance .  This appliance comes with the complete Microsoft Business Intelligence stack including: Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008 R2, SharePoint 2010, and PowerPivot for SharePoint. It can be installed and configured in less than...

               Microsoft provides a rich set of database technologies that can be use to implement on-premise and cloud based products and services.  The question of which tool to use for a given scenario often comes up. This well thought-out...

The SQL Server 2008 R2 Update For Developers January 2011 Update has just been released.  This is a great resource for developers, trainers, consultants and evangelists who need to understand the key improvements introduced in SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 from a developer perspective....

Here are some Free SQL Server training webinars from a Microsoft partner.  Pragmatic Works, SQL Server Central  and Microsoft would like to invite you to a another month of Free SQL Server Training delivered by the people that write the books! Speaker: Mike Davis Topic:SSIS Troubleshooting...

I just finished reading an excellent book:  Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform by Seroter, Fairweather, Thomas, Sexton and Ramani. (PACKT Publishing 2010.)  IMHO this is a book that all ISVs and other developers basing their solutions on Microsoft technology should read...

Data is the most important asset in most software applications built today.  This holds turn for consumer and corporate applications of all types.  There are also many options regarding where to store the data and how it will be persisted.   Some of these storage options include local...

Time sure have changed. I remember when SQL Server was considered a department level database not well suited for the enterprise, let alone a broadly available Software as a Service (SaaS) application. Now out of the recent Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) summit comes the announcement...

S QL Server “Denali” CTP1 is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center here .  The press release is here .   This CTP features many core improvements that are fundamental to the Denali release. Please read on for more details.   Ø   What’s New in SQL Server “Denali...

A Free Virtual Seminar Focused on Next-Generation Data Warehousing Appliance Architectures Join us on Nov. 16th for the can't miss "Leveraging Data Warehousing Appliances for High-Performance BI" Virtual Seminar! As budgets languish, data growth balloons and business demand intensifies, BI...

If you are an Oracle DBA and want to hone your SQL Server Skill, we have recently released a book titled “ Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Administration for Oracle DBAs ”. This is a must read for partners and ISVs moving their applications from Oracle to SQL Server or maintaining dual versions...