SQL Server 2005 Virtual Hands on labs

benmiller — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 21:39:00 GMT

Are you ready to experience SQL Server 2005?

Announcing the launch of the SQL Server 2005 Virtual Hands on labs. In these labs, you will get to experience many of the new features in SQL Server 2005 including CLR integration, XML support and deep business intelligence integration.

Just follow the link and experience SQL Server 2005 for yourself

Registration link:
http://msdn.demoservers.com/login.aspx?group=sql2005

Installing VS 2005 Beta 1 Refresh with Team Server

benmiller — Sat, 30 Oct 2004 04:35:00 GMT

I spent the better part of my day a couple of days ago helping out someone having problems installing Visual Studio 2005 Beta 1 Refresh with Team System.

It was such an experience that I decided to blog about it.

I began with 2 VPC images (cause I found out that you could install it on 2 machines and could not install it on 1) with Windows Server 2003 on them. The first thing I recommend is to become familiar with the Installation Roadmap that is on the DVD’s. This illustrates that you need a DB Server (for the DB Tier) and a Application Box (for App Tier, and Client Tier). On the DB Tier machine (VPC) I created a domain controller and Active Directory. I allowed the installer to create a DNS server so that I could have name resolution between the 2 VPC’s. I then added the Server Role of Application Server (IIS and ASP.NET Enabled). I then installed SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 that came with the VS 2005 Beta 1 Refresh DVD, and configured it as the DEFAULT instance (as this is required for this version of TS).

Then I turned to the other VPC. I joined it to the domain I just created and then added the Server Role of App Server (IIS and ASP.NET but NOT Frontpage Server Extensions as it will break the install). Then created a User that is a domain account and gave it admin rights. This will be used for the Application Pool identity. Then the key was to install the components that were on the list of components to install from the Roadmap. (included .NET Framework 2.0, Sharepoint Services 2.0 – link is in the Roadmap, and ADAM.)

These are the short steps, but the key is to follow the Roadmap and I highlighted the main points that cannot be missed or you will not succeed in installing it (from my experience).

1. DB Server must be installed as the Default Instance.

2. App Server Role on AppTier cannot have FrontPage Server Extensions enabled.

3. IIS Installed before the SQL 2005 Beta 2 is installed on the DBTier.

What you will see that may alarm you when you install is when you go to install Team Server on the App Tier is that the install will hang installing the newbanner.gif file and it will continue to bring the blue bar across as it is installing. There will be no visual indication that it is connecting to the DB Tier to create databases, etc. but that is what it is doing. I found out this by when I installed the Database Server as a named instance, it would continue to go after the newbanner.gif and then it would fail with a 26205 and a 26201 and a 26204 error. In the event logs, I found that it indicated that it could not connect to the server (db). When I changed the DB Tier to be a default instance of SQL, then it succeeded (and it took a while, so be patient).

Hope this helps people out there that may run into problems. I did this on VPC using Virtual Server 2005 on 1 box with 2 VPC’s each with 256 MB RAM. More would have been better, but it worked at least.

Have a great one.

SQL 2005 Developer Webcasts coming...

benmiller — Mon, 25 Oct 2004 20:25:00 GMT

Help us get the word out on the Webcasts that will begin in Decmeber 2004. Everyone who attends a WebCast will receive a copy of the Beta 2 Resource Kit and the Beta 3 Resource Kit when it ships. Also, the first 1500 people that watch 5 or more WebCasts will also receive a special, limited edition SQL Server 2005 WebCast T-shirt. Additionally, all WebCast viewers will be entered into a competition to win an XBOX, one for each day of the week. (see http://msdn.microsoft.com/SQL/WebcastRules.aspx)

Love that ASP.NET and SQL Server : SQL Server

SQL Server 2005 Virtual Hands on labs

Installing VS 2005 Beta 1 Refresh with Team Server

SQL 2005 Developer Webcasts coming...