Shailan - Data for the Masses : SQL

Hot Topic - New BI Features in 2008?

Shailan — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:50:54 GMT

A common question I am asked is the one of new features in SQL Server 2008, especially around BI. Hopefully this whitepaper will help you folk.

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/sql_2008_bi.mspx

Technorati Tags: sql Server 2008, Business Intelligence SQL Server 2008

SQL Closes the Distance

Shailan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:53:17 GMT

Nice write up in the Redmond Mag on SQL Server traction and closing in fast on Oracle

http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?editorialsid=2382

Nice quote -

Today's multibillion-dollar question is: Could Microsoft now do to Oracle, the long-time database leader, what it has done to the others?

The answer is (drum roll, please): Yes, probably.

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2005, SQl Server 2008

Download the Latest SQL Server 2008 CTP

Shailan — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:47:15 GMT

The SQL Server 2008 November CTP introduces extensive new functionality across all of the core themes of SQL Server – Trusted, Beyond Relational, Dynamic Development, and Pervasive Insight. For example, this CTP helps customers manage a mission critical and productive data platform with key features such as compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 as well as Resource Governor, Declarative Management Framework and Transparent Data Encryption. The CTP is also the first to help customers store and consume any type of data including new FILESTREAM data types and to provide support for spatial data. New business intelligence enhancements include improved performance, usability, and data visualization.

Read Ted Kummert’s Presspass Q&A to learn more on SQL Server 2008 and the Data Platform vision.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/bb851664.aspx

Technorati Tags: sql Server 2008

SQL Server 2008 Partner Readiness

Shailan — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:47:15 GMT

Join us as we approach the launch of SQL Server 2008. This Partner Academy Live session will cover 100-200 level content.

SQL Server 2008: Business Intelligence Overview
November 28, 2007

8:00-9:00 am PST
presented by Julie Strauss

Level: 200

Target Audience: Technical Specialists

Description:

As the platform for the end-to-end Microsoft Business Intelligence offering, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 builds on the strong momentum in the business intelligence market. This session will provide an overview of the new business intelligence capabilities available with the next release of SQL Server. In addition to discussing the overall value of the Microsoft business intelligence platform delivered with SQL Server 2008, you will also have the opportunity to see the new SQL Server 2008 BI capabilities in action through a set of product demonstrations.

Webcast Details

· https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/msevents/join?id=SQL29AL&role=attend&pw=JEI728

· Meeting ID SQL29AL

· Meeting Key: JEI728

· Telephony: 866-294-0201

· Pin: 7086

Technorati Tags: sql Server 2008

New SQL Server 2008 E-Learning Offerings

Shailan — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:16:55 GMT

Take the Microsoft free eLearning Collection 6187: What's New in Microsoft SQL Server 2008

In this 3 hour on-line collection, IT Professionals will learn about the new features in SQL Server 2008. Topics covered within these clinics include:

· What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Enterprise Data Platform

· What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Business Intelligence

· What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Database Development

https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=139087

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2008

SQL Server 2000 Support Lifecycle

Shailan — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:41:59 GMT

Andrew has blogged the support lifecycle for SQL Server 2000. Mainstream support for SQL Server 2000 ends on 8th April 2008 with the exception of CE which is 8th Jan 2008. All versions of SQL Server have extended support of +5 years, 9th April 2013.

SQL Server 2000 Support Lifecycle

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=2852

More information on Microsoft Support Policy

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy

Andrew's Blog

http://blogs.technet.com/andrew

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2000, Microsoft Support Lifecycle

8 Reasons to Migrate to SQL Server 2008

Shailan — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:24:38 GMT

Want to know why?

The Technet team are running a number of events the first on the 22nd Nov, London.

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2008

Facebook Partnership

Shailan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:13:28 GMT

Facebook and Microsoft Corp. today announced that the two companies would expand their advertising partnership and that Microsoft will take a $240 million equity stake in Facebook’s next round of financing at a $15 billion valuation. Under the expanded strategic alliance, Microsoft will be the exclusive third-party advertising platform partner for Facebook, and will begin to sell advertising for Facebook internationally in addition to the United States.

This deal is a major advertising syndication win for Microsoft and an enormous vote of confidence from our largest advertising partner. Microsoft continues to grow share of the global online advertising opportunity—currently worth $40 billion and growing rapidly—increasing the volume of advertising partnerships.

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-24FacebookPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases

http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2201992/microsoft-beats-google-facebook

Also for all you SQL folk - read on to find out about FQL

http://developers.facebook.com/documentation.php?doc=fql

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Facebook, SQL, FQL

SQL Server 2008 - Replication

Shailan — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:05:42 GMT

Asked a question about replication in SQL 2008 today, here goes from Technet.

SQL Server 2008 Replication What's New.

Peer-to Peer-Transactional Replication

Peer-to-peer replication includes the following significant usability and manageability improvements:

The ability to add nodes to a replication topology without quiescing the topology.
In earlier versions of SQL Server, you can add a node to a topology and connect the new node to one existing node. To connect the new node to more than one existing node, you must stop all activity in the topology and then make sure that all pending changes are delivered to all nodes. In SQL Server 2008, you can connect the new node to any number of existing nodes without quiescing. This is made possible in the Configure Peer-to-Peer Topology Wizard or by specifying a value of 'init from lsn' for the @sync_type parameter of sp_addsubscription.
The ability to configure a topology visually in the Configure Peer-to-Peer Topology Wizard.
The new configuration wizard provides a topology viewer that enables you to perform common configuration tasks, such as adding new nodes, deleting nodes, and adding new connections between existing nodes. The viewer is a major improvement over the grid. By using the viewer, you can see exactly how a topology is configured, and you can easily perform the various configuration tasks. For example, you could configure nodes A, B, and C to all connect to each other, and then configure node D to connect only to nodes A and B. You do not have this level of control with the grid because the grid requires all nodes to be connected to each other.

Replication Monitor

Replication Monitor includes the following usability improvements:

In most Replication Monitor grids, you can now do the following: select which columns to view; sort by multiple columns; and filter rows in the grid based on column values.
To access this functionality: right-click a grid, and then select Choose Columns to Show, Sort, Filter, or Clear Filter. Filter settings are specific to each grid. Column selection and sorting are applied to all grids of the same type, such as the publications grid for each Publisher.
The Common Jobs tab for the Publisher node has been renamed to Agents. The Agents tab now provides a centralized location to view information about all the agents and jobs that are associated with publications at the selected Publisher. Agents and jobs that are associated with publications include the following:
- The Snapshot Agent, which is used by all publications.
- The Log Reader Agent, which is used by all transactional publications.
- The Queue Reader Agent, which is used by transactional publications that are enabled for queued updating subscriptions.
- Maintenance jobs, which are used by all publications.
The Distribution Agent and Merge Agent are associated with subscriptions to publications.
The Warnings and Agents tab for the publication node has been split into separate Warnings and Agents tabs. Splitting the tabs emphasizes the difference between administering performance warnings, and monitoring replication agents. The Agents tab refreshes automatically, but the Warnings tab does not.

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2008, Replication

Technet on the Road

Shailan — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:56:46 GMT

TechNet is pleased to announce the second series of technical events

“TechNet on the Road”

We will again be stepping away from PPT and concentrating on a demo-packed full day. We will be visiting 5 locations (Reading, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Falkirk)

There are 3 separate sessions:
1) Beyond SharePoint – a look at Microsoft Office Performance Point 2007 and Enterprise Search
2) Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services and System Center
3) SQL Server 2008

The Dates

22 November 2007, London: SQL Server 2008 Pervasive Insights

27 November 2007, Falkirk: Beyond SharePoint: Advanced Solutions in Business Intelligence and Enterprise Search

27 November 2007, Falkirk: How to take online backups of running applications via System Center Data Protection Manager AND how to provide secure remote access to applications via Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services

27 November 2007, Falkirk: SQL Server 2008 Pervasive Insights

29 November 2007, Manchester: Beyond SharePoint: Advanced Solutions in Business Intelligence and Enterprise Search

29th November 2007, Manchester: How to take online backups of running applications via System Center Data Protection Manager AND how to provide secure remote access to applications via Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services

29 November 2007, Manchester: SQL Server 2008 Pervasive Insights

4 December 2007, Newcastle: Beyond SharePoint: Advanced Solutions in Business Intelligence and Enterprise Search

4 December 2007, Newcastle: How to take online backups of running applications via System Center Data Protection Manager AND how to provide secure remote access to applications via Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services

4 December 2007, Newcastle: SQL Server 2008 Pervasive Insights

5 December 2007, London: Beyond SharePoint: Advanced Solutions in Business Intelligence and Enterprise Search

5 December 2007, London: How to take online backups of running applications via System Center Data Protection Manager AND how to provide secure remote access to applications via Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services

7 December 2007, Reading: Beyond SharePoint: Advanced Solutions in Business Intelligence and Enterprise Search

7 December 2007, Reading: How to take online backups of running applications via System Center Data Protection Manager AND how to provide secure remote access to applications via Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services

Licensing

Again back by popular demand! Jackie Elleker scored some of the best presenter scores with these events previously! Attend this course to understand Microsoft Licensing and how best to apply it in your company to fit in with your business needs. This session is aimed at IT professionals who wish to gain a better understanding of Microsoft’s software licensing. The briefing assumes no previous or in-depth technical licensing experience.

21^st November, Reading

Register Now!

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008, Sharepoint, Technet

SQL Server Community

Shailan — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:27:09 GMT

Check this - Our own SQL Server Community, still in beta :)

http://www.sqlcommunity.com/

Technorati Tags: SQL Server

Microsoft Office Performance Point Server Launch - 16th October 2007, London

Shailan — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:23:00 GMT

Get Ready! Launch on the 16th October, London.

If you have not yet registered for the event follow this link

I am personally looking forward to Professor Robert Kaplan's session, and his thinking around his Balanced Scorecard.

See you there!

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Office Performance Point Server, Balanced Scorecard, Robert Kaplan, BI

Pervasive Business Intelligence

Shailan — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:40:25 GMT

Read the full article

http://blogs.technet.com/andrew/archive/2007/09/28/pervasive-business-intelligence-bi.aspx

Technorati Tags: BI, SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence

Data Protection for SQL Server

Shailan — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:36:03 GMT

Heard of Data Protection Manager?

DPM 2007 is a member of the Microsoft System Center family of management products, which are designed to help IT Professionals manage their Windows Server® infrastructure. First announced in September 2006, and now out as Beta 2, DPM 2007 sets a new standard for Windows® backup and recovery—delivering continuous data protection for Microsoft application and file servers to a seamlessly integrated secondary disk and tape solution on the DPM server. DPM enables rapid and reliable recovery through advanced technology for enterprises of all sizes.

DPM 2007 uses a combination of transaction log replication and block-level synchronization in conjunction with the SQL VSS Writer to help ensure your ability to recover SQL Server databases. After the initial baseline copy of data, two parallel processes enable continuous data protection with integrity:

· Transaction logs are continuously synchronized to the DPM 2007 server, as often as every 15 minutes.

An “express full” uses the SQL Server VSS Writer to identify which blocks have changed in the entire production database, and send just the updated blocks or fragments. This provides a complete and consistent image of the data files on the DPM server or appliance. DPM 2007 maintains up to 512 shadow copies of the full SQL Server database(s) by storing only the differences between any two images.

http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/dpm/default.mspx

Technorati Tags: Data Protection Manager, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2000

Orange County Choppers SQL Server 2005

Shailan — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:36:56 GMT

I put my bike up for sale on ebay last night. I have a 1998 GSXR 750, nice bike, yes it is fast :)

I am in search for another bike, not sure what to go for maybe another sport or alternatively a more upright bike.

Orange County Choppers look quite nice :)

http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/gp/product/orangecountychoppers.mspx

Technorati Tags: SQL Server 2005, Orange County Choppers