* Free eBook : Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

As good as it can get.  A free eBook on SQL Server 2008 R2 from Microsoft Press.

The book contains 10 chapters :

PART I   Database Administration

CHAPTER 1   SQL Server 2008 R2 Editions and Enhancements 3
CHAPTER 2   Multi-Server Administration 21
CHAPTER 3   Data-Tier Applications 41
CHAPTER 4   High Availability and Virtualization Enhancements 63
CHAPTER 5   Consolidation and Monitoring 85

PART II   Business Intelligence Development

CHAPTER 6   Scalable Data Warehousing 109
CHAPTER 7   Master Data Services 125
CHAPTER 8   Complex Event Processing with StreamInsight 145
CHAPTER 9   Reporting Services Enhancements 165
CHAPTER 10   Self-Service Analysis with PowerPivot 189

Download free eBook on SQL Server 2008 R2

* SQL Server 2008 available for download

SQL Server 2008 has been RTMed and is now available for download on MSDN subscriber downloads.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/default.aspx

 

* Day of double celebrations

It was a day of double celebrations.

Firstly, Microsoft community celebrated the launch of 2008 wave of products Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 & Visual Studio 2008.

All attendees got Heroes welcome and MVPs & UG Leads got a ++ treatment :-).

The most interesting part of the event was keynote from Soma. He is a Senior VP in Visual Studio team and come down from Redmond for this event. It was a great opportunity to meet him.

Secondly, India won a cricket tri series first time in Australia defeating Australia in finals by 2-0. Well done guys.

* India, Are you ready for Launch ?

The launch wave for 2008 products starts on March 4 in India.

Here are the schedules :

I will be there at Bangalore event ..

The agenda for Bangalore :

More details @ http://www.heroeshappenhere.co.in/Register.aspx

* SSRS : Deployment Models for SQL Server Reporting Services

This is in continuation to my SQL Server Reporting Services - Getting Started article recently published.

SSRS can be mainly divided into two deployable components :

• Report Manager (Web Application) + SSRS Services (Windows Service) = Report Server
• SSRS configuration database.

Based on these following deployment models are supported.

1. Single Machine deployment where both the components are deployed on same machine.

2.  Two machine model where Report Manager/Services are deployed in one machine while SSRS configuration database on another machine.

3. Farm model where multiple Report Server can be configured to use multiple SSRS configuration databases.

* SSRS : SQL Server Reporting Services - Getting Started

If you want to get started with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). Here is my article recently published which covers following :

• Overview
• Ecosystem
• Features
• Creating Reports
• Paramterized Reports
• Data Connection Configuration
• Access & Delivery of Reports
• Report Formats
• Architecture
• Walk Through : Create and Deploy a simple report using Report Builder

Jump to article : SSRS - Getting Started

* Worldwide SQL Server community launched

With a joint effort of Microsoft Employees, MVPs and SQL Server Experts, a new SQL Server community has been launched at www.sqlcommunity.com

Register at the site and be part of action.

* 'Katmai' : The next SQL Server

Microsoft has announced the next release of SQL Server code-named 'Katmai.

It is scheduled for release in Longhorn timeframe.

Some of the key features expected out of this release are :

• Will be able to manage any type of data like docs, xml, etc. and not just relational data.
• Better integration with Microsoft Office and Visual Studio on .NET 3.0
• Better BI capabilities.
• Ofcourse other improvements in areas of scalability, security, management, etc.

But will it be called SQL Server 2008 ?

Other Posts

• LINQ : An Introduction
• ADO.NET : Past, Present & Future
• Circular Dependency Checker
• VSProfiler : Analyze performance of Managed code
• Tutorial : Perform Web Load testing using Visual Studio
• Tip : How to change the default assembly information
• Orcas and .NET 3.5 Beta 1 Released

* SQL Server 2005 downloads

Microsoft have recently released following SQL Server 2005 downloads :

• SQL Server 2005 SP2 : Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 2005
• SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP2 : Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
• SQL Server 2005 Samples and Sample Databases (February 2007) : Download over 100 samples and five sample databases for SQL Server 2005
• SQL Server 2005 Books Online (February 2007) : Download an updated version of the documentation and tutorials for Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

~tata & take care~

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