SQL Updates Newsletter - April 2015

Recent Releases and Announcements

• Microsoft Disaster Response - Nepal Earthquake
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_corporate_disaster_response_blog/archive/2015/04/27/microsoft-disaster-response-nepal-earthquake.aspx?pi47623=3
• An updated announcement regarding the SQL Server 2014 Service Pack 1 release
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlreleaseservices/archive/2015/04/16/sql-server-2014-service-pack-1-has-released.aspx
  • Although the package was only briefly available on the Microsoft Download Center, we apologize for this mistake and the inconvenience you may have encountered as a result.
  • The original release was version 12.0.4050.0, the new release will have a new KB and build number.
  • If you already installed the original SP1 release (12.0.4050.0), you are welcome to use it (but please be aware of the SSIS catalog issue described in the blog above) . However, we do want to minimize the number of installs of 12.0.4050.0 for servicing reasons.
  • When SP1 is rereleased, we will recommend that 12.0.4050.0 be uninstalled prior to applying the new SP1 update. This includes any "Side by Side" instance scenarios.
  • We are targeting release in a few weeks and will share updates as we go.
• Cumulative Update #7 for SQL Server 2014 RTM
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlreleaseservices/archive/2015/04/23/cumulative-update-7-for-sql-server-2014-rtm.aspx
• SQL On-demand hotfix: FIX: Deadlock cannot be resolved automatically when you run a SELECT query that can result in a parallel batch-mode scan
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3048751
• Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for April 2015
  • https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms15-Apr
• Announcing the General Availability of Azure Stream Analytics
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/machinelearning/archive/2015/04/16/announcing-the-general-availability-of-azure-stream-analytics.aspx
• Announcing new high performance storage capabilities, data services and media solutions in Azure
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2015/04/16/announcing-new-high-performance-storage-capabilities-data-services-and-media-solutions-in-azure.aspx
• Cloud Platform Release Announcements for April 16, 2015
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/serverandtools/archive/2015/04/16/cloud-platform-release-announcements-for-april-16-2015.aspx
• We are pleased to announce a new Azure architecture blueprint for Large-Scale Computing - Financial Services
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/windowshpc/archive/2015/04/30/new-architecture-blueprint-large-scale-computing-financial-services.aspx
• Azure Operational Insights: Welcome to the future
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/manuelpuron/archive/2015/04/30/azure-operational-insights-welcome-to-the-future.aspx
  • Azure Operational Insights is the evolution of System Center Advisor
• Microsoft Announces Azure SQL Database elastic database, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, Azure Data Lake
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2015/04/29/microsoft-announces-azure-sql-database-elastic-database-azure-sql-data-warehouse-azure-data-lake.aspx
• What's new in the April release of the Analysis Services Connector?
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/04/17/what-s-new-in-the-april-release-of-the-analysis-services-connector.aspx
• New SQL version table article has been published: How to determine the version and edition of SQL Server and its components
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/kb/321185
• A quick run down of Azure announcement at \\Build 2015
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/uk_faculty_connection/archive/2015/04/30/a-quick-run-down-of-azure-announcement-at-build-2015.aspx
  • Transparent Data Encryption for Azure SQL Database
  • Azure Data Lake
  • Azure SQL Data Warehouse
  • Azure Service Fabric
  • Azure App Service Premium
  • Azure Resource Manager Support for VMs
  • Storage and Networking
  • Azure Marketplace Enhancements
• Azure DocumentDB is Generally Available
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/farukcelik/archive/2015/04/14/microsoft-azure-quot-documentdb-quot-is-in-ga.aspx
• Azure Service Fabric Announced
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/davidhardin/archive/2015/04/20/azure-service-fabric-announced.aspx
• Data-Tier Application Framework Update for May 2015
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2015/04/29/data-tier-application-framework-update-for-april-may-2015.aspx
  • Support for Full Text Search has been added in Azure SQL Database v12.
• Azure Premium Storage, now generally available
  • https://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2015/04/16/azure-premium-storage-now-generally-available-2/?WT.mc_id=Blog_SQL_Announce_DI
  • Azure Premium Storage provides highest performance for SQL Server in Azure VM
    • https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2015/04/23/azure-premium-storage-provides-highest-performance-for-sql-server-in-azure-vm.aspx
• Azure Premium Storage is available for SAP workloads
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/saponsqlserver/archive/2015/04/24/azure-premium-storage-is-available-for-sap-workloads.aspx
• Power BI Preview now available in your language
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/04/28/power-bi-preview-now-available-in-your-language.aspx
  • Available in 44 languages
• Exciting New Templates in Azure ML!
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/machinelearning/archive/2015/04/09/exciting-new-templates-in-azure-ml.aspx
• Power BI Preview update
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/04/01/power-bi-preview-update-march-2015.aspx
  • GitHub and SendGrid connector improvements
  • The ability to use treemaps in Q&A
  • Pinning treemaps from Q&A and reports
• 16 New Updates to the Power BI Designer Preview
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/04/22/16-new-updates-to-the-power-bi-designer-preview-april-2015.aspx
  • This update is our biggest one to date, as it brings lots of new capabilities into the Designer; particularly, the ability to create measures using DAX, as well as several other new Modeling & Query features.
  • There are also some performance and usability improvements.
  • Initial DAX Measures functionality with Intellisense
  • New DAX functions.
  • Data Types (unified across Model and Query.)
  • Model-level formatting.
  • Rename & Delete fields in Report view.
  • Updated Relationship Creation dialog
  • The Power BI Designer experience
    • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/04/22/the-power-bi-designer-experience.aspx
• Announcing Transparent Data Encryption for Azure SQL Database
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlsecurity/archive/2015/04/29/announcing-transparent-data-encryption-for-azure-sql-database.aspx#10610846
• Update Rollup 6 for Windows Azure Pack
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3051166
  • Adds support for Webjobs in Windows Azure Pack Websites
  • Adds support for Deployment Slots in Windows Azure Pack Websites
  • Adds support for Virtual Machine Checkpoint
  • Adds support to maintain Data Consistency between the SQL Resource Provider configured properties for resources (such as databases, resource pools, and workload groups) with the actual provisioned resources on the SQL Server Hosting server (or servers). This allows for the detection of differences of the SQL Resource Provider configuration data after administrators directly change the SQL Server computer.
  • Fixes several SQL Server Resource Provider issues:
• Pssdiag Manager update 12.0.0.1001 released
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2015/04/19/pssdiag-manager-update-12-0-0-1001-released.aspx
• Recent Whitepapers/E-books/Training:
  • Workshops, Webcasts, and Tech Talks – April 2015
    • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/premier_developer/archive/2015/04/10/workshops-webcasts-and-tech-talks-april-2015.aspx
  • [Webcast Video] : Cluster Aware Update (CAU) - Automate the software updating process on Failover Cluster Servers
    • https://blogs.technet.com/b/meagbs/archive/2015/04/20/webcast-video-cluster-aware-update-cau-automate-the-software-updating-process-on-failover-cluster-servers.aspx
  • Azure webinar series: recordings are now available
    • https://blogs.technet.com/b/itproaustralia/archive/2015/04/14/azure-webinar-series-recordings-are-now-available.aspx

Monthly Script Tips

• The Startup Script is Dead
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2015/04/27/the-startup-script-is-dead.aspx
• Running Windows Core: How-to view domain and join/unjoin domain
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/chad/archive/2015/04/06/running-windows-core-how-to-view-domain-and-join-unjoin-domain.aspx
• Using Windows PowerShell to provision virtual machines
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/nav/archive/2015/04/16/coffee-break-using-windows-powershell-to-provision-virtual-machines.aspx
• Learning DOS batch shell script
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/dbtechresource/archive/2015/04/04/learning-dos-batch-shell-script.aspx
• Using PowerShell To Filter Multiple Different Values
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/rmilne/archive/2015/04/13/using-powershell-to-filter-multiple-different-values.aspx
• Keeping Azure PowerShell Current
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/mast/archive/2015/04/12/keeping-azure-powershell-current.aspx
• Unable To Run Downloaded PowerShell Script
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/rmilne/archive/2015/04/03/unable-to-run-downloaded-powershell-script.aspx
• Checkpointing Hyper-V with PowerShell
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/bernhard_frank/archive/2015/04/09/checkpoint-ing-hyper-v-with-powershell.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 20] How to delete SQL Server database backups older than a specified date
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/20/script-of-apr-20-how-to-delete-sql-server-database-backups-older-than-a-specified-date.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 16] How to list the column names into one row for each table in a SQL Server database
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/16/script-of-apr-16-how-to-list-the-column-names-into-one-row-for-each-table-in-a-sql-server-databas.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 18] How to gather SQL Server blocking information to troubleshoot blocking issues
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/18/script-of-apr-18-how-to-gather-sql-server-blocking-information-to-troubleshoot-blocking-issues.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 24] How to find the auto growth settings for all the SQL Server databases
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/24/script-of-apr-24-how-to-find-the-auto-growth-settings-for-all-the-sql-server-databases.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 29] How to get SQL Server buffer pool usage to troubleshoot performance issues(PS)
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/29/script-of-apr-29-how-to-get-sql-server-buffer-pool-usage-to-troubleshoot-performance-issues-ps.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 28] How to split a row into several rows by delimiters in a SQL Server table
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/28/script-of-apr-28-how-to-split-a-row-into-several-rows-by-delimiters-in-a-sql-server-table.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 13] How to disable all the triggers in a SQL Server database
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/13/script-of-apr-13-how-to-disable-all-the-triggers-in-a-sql-server-database.aspx
• [Script Of Apr. 03] How to configure virtual memory page file size using PowerShell DSC
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/04/03/script-of-apr-03-how-to-configure-virtual-memory-page-file-size-using-powershell-dsc.aspx

Issue Alert

• Critical issue in SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 that could crash your SQL server
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/axinthefield/archive/2013/10/31/sql-server-2012-service-pack-1-issue-that-could-crash-your-server.aspx
• Critical: Do NOT delete files from the Windows Installer folder. C:\windows\Installer is not a temporary folder and files in it should not be deleted. If you do it on machines on which you have SQL Server installed you may have to rebuild the operating system and reinstall SQL Server.
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlserverfaq/archive/2013/04/30/do-not-delete-files-from-the-windows-installer-folder.aspx
• Important: You must precede all Unicode strings with a prefix N when you deal with Unicode string constants in SQL Server
  • https://support.microsoft.com/kb/239530
• A filtered index that you create together with the IS NULL predicate is not used in SQL Server
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3051225
• SQL Server query that typecasts a Unicode column to a binary collation returns incorrect results
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3053639
• FIX: Can't connect to the server when you run a cube creation MDX query in SSAS 2012
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-ie/kb/2963382
• Replication Agents fail to connect to listener in a multisite cluster
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/alwaysonpro/archive/2015/04/27/replication-agents-fail-to-connect-to-listener-in-a-multisite-cluster.aspx
• ReplTalk – Oracle Publishing Error ORA-01455
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/repltalk/archive/2015/04/22/repltalk-oracle-publishing-error-ora-01455.aspx
• Importing / Deploying / Executing the SSIS packages fails on the newly migrated SSISDB of SQL Server 2014
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_biogger/archive/2015/04/06/import-deployment-execution-of-ssis-packages-fails-on-the-newly-migrated-ssisdb-of-sql-server-2014.aspx
• The strange case of the bloated C:\Windows\CSC folder
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/arvindsh/archive/2015/04/20/the-strange-case-of-the-bloated-c-windows-csc-folder.aspx
• SSL Security Error with Data Source
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/sqlcontent/archive/2015/04/22/ssl-security-error-with-data-source.aspx
• Run the "PowerPivot Configuration Tool" after Upgrading the Analysis Services POWERPIVOT Instance.
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/excel_services__powerpivot_for_sharepoint_support_blog/archive/2015/04/14/run-the-quot-powerpivot-configuration-tool-quot-after-upgrading-analysis-services-powerpivot-instance.aspx
• Uncover the mystery of a bugcheck 0x24 (NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM)
  • https://blogs.technet.com/b/kaushika/archive/2015/04/30/uncover-the-mystery-of-a-bugcheck-0x24-ntfs-file-system.aspx

Fany Carolina Vargas | SQL Dedicated Premier Field Engineer | Microsoft Services