Rick Heiges

It's Official, today!

We have a party for SQL Server 2008 in LA!  The product may not be shipping, but that won't stop us from having our party.

Seriously, Today marks the beginning of a more useful Launch than the 2005 launch.  What am I saying?  The Launch Events will probably be more educational for you this time around because there hasn't been as much focus on having a lot of events on 2008 as of yet.  Signup today for a launch event near you!

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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In the latest PASS Community Connector, there is a call for Speakers for this year's summit in Seattle in November.  If you have never been to Seattle in November, it really makes you want to learn more about SQL Server in the breakout sessions. ;-)   But seriously, it is a great venue to meet other SQL Server professionals and meet the MSFT who actually write the code for SQL Server itself.  You know that since MSFT is located in nearby Redmond that the place will be very accessible to MSFT developers and managers.

 Also, did you know that the abstracts that are submitted are reviewed/selected by a committee of PASS Volunteers just like you? 

 

Join other industry professionals and help build the SQL Server community as a 2008 PASS Community Summit speaker in Seattle, Washington, November 18-21.  Act now and submit an abstract by the March 28^th Deadline.

All speakers receive:

• Complimentary registration to the 2008 PASS Community Summit
• Industry recognition
• Networking opportunities with thousands of attendees

Microsoft employees are encouraged to submit presentations using the online submission website.  Please note that any Microsoft submissions will be reviewed and abstract status will be determined by Microsoft.

For more information, please visit our Call To Speakers website at  http://calltospeakers.sqlpass.org/ or e-mail any questions to calltospeakers@sqlpass.org.

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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3 weeks from today, the launch party for SQl Serve 2008 will be on!  If you are in Southern California, you will be in the "happening" spot.  Enjoy!

Why have a launch without the release of the product?  SQL Server 2008 is more of an incremental release.  There are some great new features in the product, but the bulk of the change was going from 2000 to 2005.  From my point of view, there were many more events and opportunities for education on SQl Server 2005 than 2008.  I was at the Launch of SQL Server 2005 in San Francisco.  It was a great time, but the content at the launch was not new (at least to me).  The content at the launch events over the next few months will most likely be more useful than the content at the 2005 events.  If you are like many folks who still have 2000 in your environment and have some servers running 2005, these launch events will be useful.  If you haven't seen it already, there will be opportunities in your area to sign-up for a launch event.  Another great source of information on SQL Server 2008 will be the local user groups across the nation and worldwide that will be involved in launches.

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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On Jan. 24, there is a FREE virtual conference focused on SQL Server 2008.  This is not just a webcast that you can view online.  The sessions are scheduled at specific times with Live Q&A following the session from the speakers.  Grab one of your SQL buddies and sign-up to attend virtually on Jan. 24!

Register Here: http://events.unisfair.com/index.jsp?eid=157&seid=291&code=sqlevents

Drop by the Virtual PASS Booth and say Hello!

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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In case you have not heard yet.......

 

SQL Server 2008 CTP5 Beta Now Available for Free in a Secure Hosted Environment!

PASS, MaximumASP, Dell and Intel have partnered to offer this advance preview...

Try out real-world data online in a secure, hosted environment - you don't have to download or install a thing - and your feedback will influence the final version!

Get started today at www.sqlserverbeta.com and discover the powerful functionality of the latest version of SQL Server 2008 including:

• Reporting Services
• Language Integrated Query (LINQ)
• Predictable Query Performance
• Transparent Data Encryption
• Integrated Full Text Search
• Sparse Columns
• Spatial Data Types
• Grouping Sets

 Visit  www.sqlserverbeta.com today!

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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The old Hardware Compatibility List which was renamed the "Windows Catalog" is no more.  When creating a Clustered Solution, you need to have a system that is Certified for clustering or there will be no official support.  This has been a point of pain in the past as organizations purchased a clustered solution and then one of the nodes has issues after a year or two.  Getting an exact replica of that node is often impossible and impractical.  Try explaining to the big wigs that you need to purchase a new system that is 2 years old - not very compelling.

In Windows 2008 and SQL 2008, there is no need for a certified solution.  There is a program called clusprep.exe that you run on the nodes of the proposed cluster to test/prepare the nodes.  If your system passes, it can run on a cluster. 

One drawback of this is that when failing over to a node of lesser "girth", the user experience may suffer.  Also, with this change, the base of clustering is changing which means that your upgrade to the 2008 flavor will take some more planning.

If you attended the PASS Community Summit in Denver, you can view the streaming session online on Clustering.  It was very educational.

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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I started the Triad SQL Server User Group with several other folks back in 2002.  I led the chapter for 2 years before turning the reigns over to a Board of Directors.  I have only been to one or two meetings since the turnover mainly because I have been out of town when they have meetings.  But last night, I was in town and the Holiday Social was just 2 miles away from my house at a local drinking/dining establishment. 

It was good to see the Board of Directors and meet some of the regulars who now attend. I was so happy to see that the group has really grown over the past few years in its sophistication, marketing, and breadth of topics.  I wanted to acknowledge and praise the team that is now the Board of Directors - Miguel Cebollero, Michael Wharton, and Karen Lennon.

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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I spoke at the Charlotte SQL Server User Group last night.  Will Sweeny confirmed that MSFT will continue to offer the free trade-out to 64-bit licensing from 32-bit.  In other words, if you upgraded your 32-bit SQL 2000 to 32-bit SQL 2005 and are considering a new 64-bit server, you can simply swap the 32-bit license for the 64-bit license.  Of course, you will need to de-commission the 32-bit server.  In SQL 2000, this is available, but the 64-bit licensing is only for Itanium based systems as there is no x64 flavor for SQL 2000.

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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If you live near Charlotte, NC or are planning to be in the area, drop by the Microsoft Offices at 7pm on Oct 16, 2007 for the local user group meeting.  The topic will be "The 64-bit Question" which will discuss the options for moving to 64-bit for SQL Server Databases.  For  more information and also RSVP, check out http://charlotte-sql.org/meetings.html

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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Last week at the PASS Community Summit, I was so busy that I did not get a chance to blog about anything.  Looking back, I had a great time and learned a few things.  In one of the keynotes, I heard MSFT say that the upgrade experience from 2005 to 2008 would be seemless.  When I repeated this information to a few other MSFT folks, I got a chuckle. This combined with my experiences and dialogues with friends, colleagues, and other MVPs has led me to this point.  SQL 2005 to 2008 upgrade will "seem" less like an upgrade after going through the 2000 to 2005 upgrade. 

With so many installations of SQL Server 2000 still out there, the customers are asking for an easier upgrade.  I was very happy when I saw the Upgrade Advisor tool for 2005.  I think it helped many customers in preparing for this revolution to the current generation of DB engines.  I know that MSFT will have tools available for the 2008 upgrade as well.  Just as there was more work to go from 6.5 to 70 and less from 7.0 to 2000 typically, there was more work going from 2000 to 2005 than there will be going from 2005 to 2008.  Your mileage may vary. 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1.  The League ID and password are as follows: 

League ID#: 265861
Password: rssfeed

We'll keep everyone updated throughout the season.

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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THe PASS Community Summit will be held in Denver, the Mile High City, this year with more content focused on BI than ever before.  To be a part of this event, visit www.sqlpass.org and register by Aug 31 to enjoy the last price break before the summit. Don't forget to check out the pre-conference events as well.  There is a lot of great content for DBAs and Developers as always PLUS a special focus on BI.  If you have not attended a PASS event before, I encourage you to do so.

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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We will close registration on Tuesday, Aug 28.  We still hav several spots left.  I invite you to join and play.  You will need to first go to www.yahoo.com and register (if youalready do not have a yahoo account) and then go to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1.  The League ID and password are as follows:  League ID#: 265861 Password: rssfeed  Rick...

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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I can't believe it. The PASS COmmunity Summit is only a month away!

Check out the strong SQL Server content at www.sqlpass.org and register today.  BI is a growing part of your business and is also a growing part of the content that you will find in Denver this year.  Plus Microsoft will have several sessions on SQL Server 2008.

Pre-cons - One of the most popular events at PASS is the pre-conference sessions that take place on Monday and Tuesday.  These sessions take a particular topic and dive deep on it for an entire day.  Register early so that you get your first choice.

Speakers - Once again, PASS will feature top speakers fro the SQL Community including names that you know from SQLBLOG.com (Kalen, Andrew, Kevin to name a few) and some soon to be well-known names too. 

I hope to see you there!

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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I saw some pre-season NFL this weekend on TV.  Can't wait for opening day!  I blogged recently about a league I started on Yahoo.  We still hav several spots left.  I invite you to join and play.  You will need to first go to www.yahoo.com and register (if youalready do not have a yahoo account) and then go to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1.  The League ID and password are as follows:  League ID#: 265861 Password: rssfeed  Rick...

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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ESPN has been reporting lately on the start of training camps for the NFL.  It won't be long before we start seeing NFL pre-season games on TV.  With that in mind, I'd like to challenge some of you to compete against one another in Fantasy Football.  I have started a League on Yahoo that you can join (only the first 12 members though).  You will need to first go to www.yahoo.com and register (if youalready do not have a yahoo account) and then go to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1.  The League ID and password are as follows: 

League ID#: 265861
Password: rssfeed

Several years ago, SQL Server Central did this and it was fun to participate.  I hope that you join quickly so we can set the draft date and start playing games!

 Rick...

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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I was in Orlando for Tech for 2.5 days.  It was great to see some old friends and make new ones too.  I saw fellow SQLBloggers like Kalen, Kevin, and of course Peter to drop a few names.  Today, a colleague of mine on the Board of Directors with PASS shot me an e-mail.  On the red-gate website, there is a video testimonial by a Sr. DBA from United Health Group.  I am caught lurking in the background.  Just go to www.red-gate.com and play the video to see me lurking.

Now, on to more SQL Stuff....   I was able to speak with PMs while hanging out in the SQL area about Katmai.  I attended 2 sessions on SQL Server 2008.  From my first impressions so far, SQL 2005 was the meat and 2008 is the sizzle.  There are some really cool things going on in 2008 like the Policy based management functionality to help enforce best practices as well as additional Performance and Scalability enhancements.  Usability has also been improved with "Intellisense" finally getting in a release (it was in Beta 1 of Yukon, but got cut). The most general session with an overview of Katmai - SQL 2008 is available for viewing at www.virtualteched.com - I encourage you to view this webcast to get the "big picture" and a few morsels.  I have not been able to find the other recorded TechEd sessions on SQL 2008 thus far.

And now for something completely unrealted.  This morning, we got a Wii. It was hard to find, but we finally got one at an electronics store by being lucky.  Anyway, the Wii has a very different interface that makes game playing very interesting.  It tracks the movements of the controllers to enable more "life like" gaming.  It isn't going to improve my golf game, but it was still a lot of fun to play by actually swinging your arms like a golf club.  Although I only got about an hour to spend with the game system tonight, i felt like I knew what i was doig when first playing the games.  i wonder if this will influence the interfaces that we will utilize in the future to conduct business.  Will we virtually take out a credit card from our wallet and swipe it to complete a transaction?  Will some type of controller movement be our new signature?  Where will we store all of the data need for this to happen?

 

 

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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As many of you know, the PASS Community Summit will be held in Denver, CO from Sep 18-21.  Please visit the official website, www.sqlpass.org, to submit an abstract if you wish to be considered a speaker.  Hope to see you there!

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Cross-posted from SQLBlog! - http://www.sqlblog.com

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