SQL Server 2008 R2 Community Preview Now Available on MSDN
The first Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is now available for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. A public version of the CTP should be available August 17 from TechNet Eval Center. Versions are available for 32-bit and 64-bit processors.
SQL Server 2008 R2 Books Online Community Technology Preview August 2009 has been posted on the Microsoft Download Center. The documentation includes tutorials.
The R2 release improves efficiency by reducing the time and cost of developing and managing applications. As ISVs, you’ll be able to:
- Pre-define Gemini templates with your applications
- Pre-define SQL Server Reporting Services report components
- Enhance visualization add-ins
- Create Data (ATOM) feed enabled applications
SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP includes new features:
- Application and Multi-server Management: Improving DBA and developer efficiency
- SMP scale up with support for up to 256 logical processors
- Report Builder 3.0 with support for geospatial visualization
SQL Server 2008 R2 provides new tools for managing large multi-database environments along with improved capabilities to help maximize the value of consolidation efforts, and ensure the streamlined development and deployment of data-driven applications.
SQL Server 2008 R2 provides both end-users and IT with cutting edge tools to create, analyze and model, share and manage business intelligence data in a secure and streamlined way.
In SQL Server 2008 R2, end-users can publish their data-driven solutions through SharePoint. Uses can create their own analytic applications through the “Gemini” add in to Excel and SQL Server 2008 R2. With Gemini, users are empowered to create solutions using data from both IT-managed and external sources, carry out rich ad-hoc analysis and modeling, extract value from data more easily, and publish and share reports for their colleagues to view.
SQL Server 2008 R2 supports mapping, routing, custom shapes, and other spatial data and makes it easy to combine it with other data and Bing Maps for Enterprise, creating a new class of rich, data-driven solutions.
You can provide feedback on the SQL Server 2008 R2 forums on MSDN. And join in the 2009 PASS Summit Unite Conference - November 2-5 2009 in Seattle.
SQL Server 2008 R2 is slated for release in the first half of 2010.
Bruce D. KyleISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation