SQL Server News

December 2008 - Posts

• SQL Server 2008 Activity Monitor

  The latest version of Microsoft's data platform came to the table with a completely overhauled Activity Monitor. The revamping process meant that the Redmond company not only rewrote the Activity Monitor from scratch, but that it also moved its location in the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. Bill Ramos, a principal program manager on the SQL Server Manageability team, admitted that moving the Activity Monitor in SQL Server 2008 might not have been the best idea, since feedback indicated that users had troubles locating it, but did point customers in the right direction. More at http://news.softpedia.com/news/SQL-Server-2008-Activity-Monitor-100945.shtml Posted Dec 30 2008, 11:59 AM by dineshasanka with no comments

• Microsoft Security Advisory

  Microsoft has warned customers of a critical vulnerability in older versions of SQL Server. The company recommends users work around this vulnerability themselves. The vulnerability exists in the extended stored procedure sp_replwritetovarbin and could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code as the SQL Server process. The stored procedure is available by default on all affected SQL servers and can be exploited directly by a user or through SQL injection vulnerabilities. More at http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/Critical-vulnerability-in-older-versions-of-SQL-Server--/112304 Posted Dec 23 2008, 01:47 PM by dineshasanka with no comments

• Ready? Set? Kilimanjaro!

  When Microsoft announced the 2010 Kilimanjaro release at its October 2008 Business Intelligence (BI) Conference, I thought, “Oh no! Not yet!” It isn’t because I have technical reservations about this BI-focused incremental release of SQL Server: I’m concerned about the marketing and the timing. 2010 is just too soon for another release of SQL Server. SQL Server 2008 was released more than halfway through 2008, and its adoption curve is still in the infancy phase. More at http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=100840 Posted Dec 23 2008, 01:46 PM by dineshasanka with no comments

• Database Breach Preparedness

  A copy of "SQL Server Forensic Analysis," by Kevvie Fowler, arrived in my mailbox today. I'd been looking forward it to because it is a highly topical subject given all of the data breaches that have occurred in the past couple of years involving databases. David Litchfield has produced numerous whitepapers and presented on the topic of Oracle forensics, but little has been published on forensics of Windows SQL Server systems. More at http://www.darkreading.com/blog/archives/2008/12/database_breach.html Posted Dec 23 2008, 01:44 PM by dineshasanka with no comments

• 'Kilimanjaro' SQL Server CTP To Begin in January

  The Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) on Monday unveiled a limited community technology preview (CTP) of "Kilimanjaro," which is expected to begin in January.  More at http://virtualizationreview.com/news/article.aspx?editorialsid=10460 Posted Dec 17 2008, 10:57 AM by dineshasanka with no comments

• BI: The Year in Review

  For BI professionals, it was a year in which several long-simmering trends seemed to coalesce and boil over. More at http://www.esj.com/business_intelligence/article.aspx?EditorialsID=9260 Posted Dec 17 2008, 10:54 AM by dineshasanka with no comments

• Top Database Stories of 2008

  The big stories in the database arena in 2008 included cloud databases, the release of SQL Server 2008 and acquisitions, most notably Sun Microsystems’ purchase of MySQL. more stories at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Database/Top-Database-Stories-of-2008/ Posted Dec 10 2008, 03:28 PM by dineshasanka with no comments

• FrontRange Solutions Eases Software License Management With New License Manager 3.0

  License Manager 3.0 also introduces the ability to centrally manage entitlements for Microsoft server products that use either CALs (Client Access Licenses), such as SQL Server, Exchange and Terminal Services or per processor licensing. This includes the ability to create and manage CALs based on per device or per user. More at http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/FrontRange-Solutions-Eases-Software-License/story.aspx?guid=%7BDDFCB053-43C9-4824-A17A-D23103A9D22B%7D Posted Dec 03 2008, 11:09 AM by dineshasanka with no comments

• Zoho Makes Cloud Data Accessible with Zoho CloudSQL

  Zoho CloudSQL makes it easier for customers to access their data in the cloud because it leverages skills that most business application developers have. In addition, Zoho CloudSQL supports all major SQL dialects, including ANSI, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Informix database dialects. With Zoho CloudSQL, developers don't need to worry about using the "right" SQL dialect; they can continue using what they already know. More at http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Zoho-Makes-Cloud-Data-Accessible/story.aspx?guid=%7B95B8C8FC-377E-43A7-85D1-EC5E3439AF2F%7D Posted Dec 03 2008, 11:06 AM by dineshasanka with no comments

• Time to reject traditional database techniques?

  Mainstream database management system (DBMS) technology faces a challenge from new approaches that reject the relational model. The battleground is set to be the market for business intelligence based on very large databases. Some main players in DBMS software are already jockeying for position with revamped database products aimed at recapturing ground lost to newer products. Recently Microsoft unveiled Kilimanjaro, the next massively scalable version of its SQL Server with a strong BI flavor, while database market number-one Oracle joined forces with Hewlett-Packard to launch its Exadata storage grid. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/14/large_databases/ Posted Dec 02 2008, 10:40 AM by dineshasanka with no comments

• MapDotNet Enables Geospatial Data Visualization for Microsoft Single View Platform

  “With Microsoft Single View Platform, government customers can now deploy a fully integrated solution for geospatial analysis and visualization that snaps in to their Microsoft-based information technology environments,” explained Mark Alexander, President of ISC. “Organizations that are using or plan to deploy Microsoft’s products and technologies including Virtual Earth, Windows Server®, Microsoft Dynamics® CRM, SQL Server 2008 and SharePoint® Portal Server will find that they can now create, visualize and analyze spatial data within those familiar environments.” http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081202/mapdotnet-enables-geospatial-data-visualization-for-microsoft-single-view-platform.htm Posted Dec 02 2008, 10:37 AM by dineshasanka with 1 comment(s)