Via Data Platform Insider
We are very excited to share that today, Microsoft released SQL Server 2008 R2 to manufacturing! Customers can expect availability in the next few weeks through Microsoft’s distribution channels. For more information, visit www.sqlserverlaunch.com.
SQL Server 2008 R2 enhancements continue to support mission-critical workloads providing a trusted, scalable platform, increased developer and IT efficiency and managed self-service business intelligence reporting and analytics. It is for these very reasons that SQL Server 2008 R2 is setting records for performance and price/performance on industry standard benchmarks.
SQL Server 2008 R2, as part of Microsoft’s complete information platform, makes gathering, managing and using business information easier and more cost-effective for businesses. Some of the capabilities that customers and partners will benefit from include:
The customer engagement in the development process of SQL Server 2008 R2 was outstanding, with more than 300,000 downloads of the technology previews. Customers including Bank of New Zealand, PREMIER Bankcard, Studio Moderna and CareGroup Healthcare System are already taking advantage of the new scalability, BI and manageability features in SQL Server 2008 R2. Furthermore, more than 2,000 global ISVs are delivering applications worldwide. A few of these partners include SafeNet, Inc., Brocade, Stratus Technologies, Dassault Systèmes, ESRI and OSIsoft, LLC.
Customer Studio Moderna, a direct response marketing network in Central and Eastern Europe, has complex operations that require fast and decentralized decision making – placing heavy demands on its IT systems. The company is building a solution based on SQL Server 2008 R2 PowerPivot that will consolidate data from multiple IT systems into “one version of the truth,” as well as lower costs and reduce users’ reliance on the IT staff. “SQL Server 2008 R2 will empower our employees to make decentralized decisions faster and more reliably,” said Sandi Češko, Chairman, Studio Moderna.
Partner SafeNet provides organizations using SQL Server 2008 R2 with additional security features to help meet evolving data threats and compliance mandates. Chris Fedde, president and COO of SafeNet, explains that “The integration of our hardware security modules (HSM) security features with SQL Server 2008 R2 is an ideal solution for any end user organization that is focused on providing a secure operating environment, installing upgrades quickly and seamlessly, and meeting compliance standards.”
To explore what’s new in the SQL Server 2008 R2 release, please visit the SQL Server 2008 R2 Digital Tour at www.sqlserverlaunch.com. Additionally, remember to use the #SQLR2 hashtag when Tweeting all SQL Server 2008 R2 related news!
Additional Resources:
The South Australia Department of Health (SA Health) is responsible for delivering comprehensive healthcare options to the state’s 1.6 million residents. To support this work, the department’s ICT Services division adopted the Windows 7 operating system. SA Health tested several new features of Windows 7 including BitLocker drive encryption technology, Fast User Switching, and DirectAccess. After the pilot program is complete, SA Health expects to introduce enhanced security, substantial time savings, and increased productivity. Read the full case study here
Get in on some Microsoft Virtualization action in May with a selection of TechNet Live Meetings. Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V – Technical Overview and changes Friday, 7 May 2010 11:00 AM Australia (East) Speaker – Jeff Alexander Event Overview In this session we’ll begin by giving you a 360 degree view of Microsoft’s Virtualization strategy. We will dive into Hyper-V v2 and discuss technologies such as Live Migration and hot add and removal of storage. We’ll also discuss how we have improved performance and increased scalability through technologies such as Jumbo Frame Support, Second Level Address Translation and Core Parking.
Demonstrations in this session Live Migration Hot add of storage Desktop Virtualization : Microsoft and VDI Friday, 14 May 2010 11:00 AM Australia (East) Speaker – Daniel Bucherer Event Overview In this session we’ll discuss Desktop Virtualisation and what it means for your business. We’ll discuss the different options and where they fit in. We will then talk about Microsoft’s Virtual Desktop offering and what the technology looks like now and what is coming in SP1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. We’ll also talk about the recent changes in licensing for desktop virtualization and the options available to you.
Demonstrations in this session Increasing Scalability using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Application Virtualization: What’s new in App-V 4.6 Friday, 21 May 2010 11:00 AM Australia (East) Speaker – Jeff Alexander Event Overview The challenge many of us face today is the rigid coupling of applications to the standard operating environment or the machine and operating system. This leads to a number of issues including incompatibility between two applications installed on the same OS instance. Microsoft Application Virtualization addresses these issues de-coupling as applications from the physical environment and enabling them to be virtualized and streamed to the client. In this session we’ll talk about the new version of Application Virtualization; App-V 4.6. We’ll discuss the changes in this new version, including how it works better with Windows 7 and Office 2010.
Demonstrations in this Session Installing and Configuring App-V 4.6 Sequencing an Application Installing an application on a client
Understanding the value of deploying Windows Server 2008 R2 and System Center Friday, 28 May 2010 11:00 AM Australia (East) Speaker – Jeff Alexander Event Overview The session will explore how Windows Server 2008 R2 and System Center enable IT savings through the use of virtualization technologies. This includes server consolidation, improved availability of Hyper-V servers, improved management of virtual servers, and simplified deployment methods for virtual and physical machines. You will learn about the:
Demonstrations in this session Server Consolidation Failover Clustering Live Migration Reducing Deployment Costs Manageability Enhancements
Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services Live Meeting – Friday 16 April In this session, we will examine Remote Desktop Services for Windows Server 2008 R2. We will begin by discussing user experience improvements in RemoteApp and Remote Desktop. Then we will discuss remote application improvements by integrating Applications in start menu. Next, we will explore Remote Desktop Services manageability improvements. The topics will include Windows PowerShell support, improved application installs, single management console for both RemoteApp & Desktop connections and RemoteApp and Desktop Web Access, Single sign-on experience within a workspace, and connection broker install & profile management. Finally, we will explore how Remote Desktop Services improves presentation services by providing a single broker to connect users to virtual machines. The topics will include enhanced solution for VDI scenarios with Hyper-V. NAP and NPS in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 Live Meeting – Friday 30 April This session will explore Network Policy Server (NPS) and Network Access Protection (NAP) policy enhancements to show how Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 are better together. We will first discuss NPS deployment improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2. The topics will include configuration templates, Automated NPS SQL logging setup, accounting improvements, and multiple SHV policy. Then we will discuss Windows 7 user interface improvements in the action center. Next, we will discuss the quality improvements and new capabilities to the NAP compliance exchange. Then, we will discuss how NPS and NAP can be integrated with Microsoft technologies including Direct Access and Terminal Server Gateway. Finally, we will discuss how to configure Windows 7 clients for NAP and configure NPS server health policies.
As we announced in 2008, support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010. Support for Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server will end on the same date. Support for Windows Vista Release to Manufacturing (RTM) will end on April 13, 2010.
NOTE: There is no Service Pack 3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 2, you are on the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014.
Customers running an unsupported version of Windows or service pack will not be eligible for any of our support options. Updates, including security updates released with bulletins from the Microsoft Security Response Center, will be reviewed and built for the supported versions and service packs only. The most current service packs are available to organizations, and they are easily deployed via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services/Microsoft System Center, and the Microsoft Download Center. To better understand the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy and your support options visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle page.
There is no supported migration path from Windows 2000 to Windows 7 using the Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT). You will need to upgrade to Windows XP and then migrate to Windows 7 using USMT 4.0, a tool included with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). With Extended Support for Windows 2000 Server also ending on July 13,2010, the product will no longer be publicly supported after this date. Self-Help Online Support will be available for Windows 2000 Server after Extended Support for the operating system ends. For more information on Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server End of Support visit Windows 2000 End of Support Solution Center. A direct upgrade from Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2008 R2 is not supported. The Solution Center will provide information about migration paths, the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit and the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.
Updating your Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 2000 PCs before the end of mainstream support dates will ensure your PCs stay supported and receive security updates. The best way to be secure and supported is by migrating to Windows 7. There are tools to help test and mitigate application compatibility issues, including the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit, Windows XP Mode, and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) to help migration. To learn more about these tools, visit the Springboard Series on TechNet.