SQL Server 2008 R2 planned for 2010

SQL Server 2008 R2 is scheduled for release in the first half of 2010 and it promises some extremely useful enhancements to its predecessor SQL Server 2008.

It only seems like yesterday that SQL Server 2008 was released. Then there were rumours that Microsoft had plans to release a new version of SQL Server every 18 months, which seemed a bit optimistic given that most clients still have not upgraded from SQL Server 2005 and many are still using SQL Server 2000.

Then there was another rumour that the next version would be called SQL Server 2010, inline with other planned releases including SharePoint 2010.

However in the end it is destined to be called SQL Server 2008 R2 (release 2). This is in line with releases of other products such as the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2. It is scheduled for release in the first half of 2010.

Well, now we know what it is to be called and when it will be released, we can get down to more important issues such as what new features it has to offer and here is some of what is promised:

• Support for up to 256 logical CPUs
• Improved virtualisation support with Hyper-V
• Processing of high volume data streams using new 'StreamInsight' technology
• Improved resource governor, compression, encryption and auditing
• Support for data warehouses up to 100TB with new 'Madison' software and hardware from Dell, HP, and others
• New tools and dashboards to make the management of servers and new software deployments easier
• Much improved support for Business Intelligence applications with:
  • New tools and a new master data hub and portal that that simplifies the management of the master data that underlies reports
  • End user SQL analytical solution (i.e. enhanced dashboards) provision in SharePoint through new centralised management console and the 'Gemini' add-in for SharePoint Server 2010 and for Excel. Users will be able to extract data from a data warehouse themselves more easily
  • Report Builder 3.0 will make it easier for users to create their own reports
  • Improved tools and support for geospatial data, including integration with Bing maps, will make map based solutions easier to create

So in summary the main trends are improvements in scalability for larger systems and much more business intelligence capability with an emphasis on users being able to do more themselves.

It's interesting to note that SQL Server and SharePoint are getting closer, particular in the area of business intelligence reporting. It is almost like a master plan that is gradually beginning to fall into place: SQL Server stores and manipulates the data and SharePoint presents it to the users over the web. Each product doing what it does best.

Do you need SQL Server consultancy? Come and speak to us and benefit from our wealth of expertise and experience in Microsoft SQL Server. Contact Andrew Chalmers on andrew.chalmers@ballardchalmers.com or call 01342 410223.

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