Tech-Ed: Microsoft Unveils SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate
- By Peter Varhol
- 06/12/2008
It was supposed to be released at the same time as Windows Server 2008, but
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is just getting cleaned up for its big act. At Tech-Ed
IT Professionals this week, Microsoft announced the availability of the
SQL
Server 2008 release candidate.
This is the final public release before SQL Server 2008 releases to manufacturing
in the third quarter of this year, so anyone looking at an early deployment
should start by testing with this RC. This product includes improvements in
mission-critical platform, dynamic development, beyond relational data and pervasive
business insight.
Are you planning an early deployment of SQL Server 2008? Which new features
are most important to your organization? Give me the scoop on your data at [email protected].
IT User Group TV Debuts
Here at Redmond magazine, we've always known that a key to Microsoft's
success in IT has been the emergence of strong IT-oriented
user groups.
Microsoft is now acknowledging the importance of its user groups with User
Group TV for IT Pros, a monthly webcast that brings programming on IT products
and techniques to user groups worldwide. It's possible to view past broadcasts
and sign up for notifications of upcoming ones. Further, you can provide feedback
on past shows and make suggestions for new ones.
Do you belong to a user group? Tell me about how it makes you a better IT pro
at [email protected].
Quest Brings SQL Server Management Solutions to Market
IT solutions vendor Quest Software made a number of announcements at Tech-Ed
this week, with several revolving around tools supporting SQL Server.
In one
announcement, the company unveiled Capacity Manager for SQL Server 2.5,
which lets system admins control disk space, growth rates and database performance.
The second part of the announcement focused on Change Director for SQL Server,
which enables database professionals to better manage the implementation and
control of enterprise-wide changes to database structures and locations.
In a separate
announcement, Quest released a consolidation guide that provides best practices
along with techniques for using Quest tools to plan and execute a SQL Server
consolidation project. In conjunction with this guide, the company also made
available a free tool, Discovery Wizard for SQL Server, that allows organizations
to find each instance of SQL Server in their environment, along with LiteSpeed
for SQL Server to help in backing up and moving data with minimal downtime.
Do you use Quest tools in your SQL Server environment? I hear Toad is also
widely used. Tell me which tools you use at [email protected].
Lieberman Software Makes Passwords Random
For those of you who have challenges applying a password security policy across
the servers in the enterprise, this week at Tech-Ed Lieberman Software announced
Enterprise Random Password
Manager 4.0. Enterprise Random Password Manager automatically randomizes
local administrator and root account passwords across every system in the enterprise,
according to a defined schedule.
The product especially shines in environments where server account passwords
are used in a cascading manner, for other servers, applications or services.
The Enterprise Random Password Manager can be used to identify and enumerate
every location in the enterprise where every account is used, and then automatically
propagate password changes to these systems and accounts.
How do you manage your server passwords? Give me a hint at [email protected].
About the Author
Peter Varhol is the executive editor,
reviews of Redmond magazine and has more than 20 years of experience as a software
developer, software product manager and technology writer. He has graduate degrees
in computer science and mathematics, and has taught both subjects at the university
level.