SQL Server News

SQL Server 2008 Activity Monitor

2008-12-30T09:59:00Z

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

Microsoft Security Advisory

2008-12-23T11:47:00Z

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

Ready? Set? Kilimanjaro!

2008-12-23T11:46:00Z

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

Database Breach Preparedness

2008-12-23T11:44:00Z

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

'Kilimanjaro' SQL Server CTP To Begin in January

2008-12-17T08:57:00Z

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

BI: The Year in Review

2008-12-17T08:54:00Z

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

FrontRange Solutions Eases Software License Management With New License Manager 3.0

2008-12-03T09:09:00Z

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

Zoho Makes Cloud Data Accessible with Zoho CloudSQL

2008-12-03T09:06:00Z

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

Time to reject traditional database techniques?

2008-12-02T08:40:00Z

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/

MapDotNet Enables Geospatial Data Visualization for Microsoft Single View Platform

2008-12-02T08:37:00Z

“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

Quest Software Unveils New SQL Server Online Resource

2008-11-27T08:55:00Z

Quest Software has launched a new online resource, SQLServerPedia, which the company stated is chock-full of free information and education for SQL Server professionals, by SQL Server professionals, including a blog and community-run wiki.

More at http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2052437/

Aras Achieves Microsoft “Front Runner” Status for Advanced PLM Solution Suite

2008-11-27T08:51:00Z

Aras, leading Microsoft enterprise open source software solution provider, today announced that the Aras Innovator solution suite for Product Life Cycle Management [PLM] is enabled on Microsoft SQL Server 2008, earning the company Front Runner status from Microsoft Corp. Aras, the most advanced enterprise PLM solution available, in combination with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 helps enable customers to innovate and collaborate more effectively to develop new products faster. SQL Server 2008 provides the trusted, productive and intelligent Data Platform for the Aras business-critical applications.

More at http://www.pr.com/press-release/118941

Microsoft, Amazon take different paths to cloud caching

2008-11-26T09:49:00Z

Amazon and Microsoft, two of the leaders in the evolving cloud-services space, are offering customers a number of wares that — at least on the surface — sound similar. But in the area of caching, the paths of the two providers are diverging.

More at http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1738

New Board Members Elected to the Professional Association for SQL Server

2008-11-24T12:49:00Z

The Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) today announced its new board members at the PASS Community Summit 2008. Douglas McDowell, managing partner for Solid Quality Mentors and Andy Warren, president of Fourdeuce will be joining the PASS Board of Directors-at-Large while Lynda Rab continues her Board service for a new term. Newly elected board members will begin serving their term on January 1, 2009.

More at http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/New-Board-Members-Elected-Professional/story.aspx?guid=%7B58504466-F786-4CB4-B415-A442820CAE8C%7D