SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Customer Technology Preview Available

Dear Customers,

Today marks the release of the Customer Technology Preview (CTP) for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2.  Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 includes:

• All hotfixes released up to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP1 CU 8.
• Updates to the Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint Products 2007 allowing customer to connect to SQL Server 2008 R2 Report Servers.
• Support for SQL Server 2008 R2 version of Management Studio to perform operations for data-tier applications (DAC) in SQL Server 2008 instances that have SP2 installed.  For more information please visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee240739.aspx.
• Support for SQL Server 2008 R2 Utility Explorer and SQL Server Utility viewpoints in (SSMS) provide administrators a holistic view of resource health through an instance of SQL Server that serves as a utility control point (UCP).  For more information please visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210557.aspx.

 We encourage customers to try Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP2 CTP, and provide us your feedback.  We are actively reading all feedback and appreciate any thoughts that you might have to help us with this product update.  To provide feedback please visit the Microsoft Connect Feedback Center.

To obtain SQL Server 2008 SP2 CTP please visit the links below:

·         Download SQL Server 2008 SP2 CTP

·         Download SQL Server 2008 SP2 Express CTP

With the upcoming general availability of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP2, now is a good time for current SQL Server 2005 customers to consider upgrading to SQL Server 2008 to take advantage of the great enhancements and benefits.

Thank you and we look forward to releasing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP2 soon!

Abhishek Sinha

Program Manager

SQL Server Sustained Engineering