There's Something about SQL! : Cool Technologies

PPT Plex add on for Power Point - Cool!

beatrice — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:30:00 GMT

PPT Plex is a new tool - or more precisely - a new add on for Microsoft Power Point - which will change the way you will deliver your presentations.

In short, what it allows is a different navigation experience trough your slide deck. Instead of having the classical navigation path - in which you follow your slides in a pre-definite order - you can group your slides based on topic, subtopic etc, and quickly drill out and drill down on the subject you want to cover.

I would generally not recommend it for whichever presentation.

For the standard presentations in which you really want to follow a specific path, then you don't really require this tool (or you can use it, if you just want to look cool :-)).

Though you really get the most out of it during interactive presentations - sessions in which you don't have a specific path to follow but you want to jump between different subjects - perhaps because you want to follow the public's questions or specific areas of interest.

Anyway, said that, it is definitely something to try out - and then you'll figure out why and how to use it - based on your tastes.

More info?:

Well, PPT Plex official site: http://www.officelabs.com/projects/pptPlex/

Eileen Brown's blog contains some useful information too: http://blogs.technet.com/eileen_brown/archive/2008/09/12/pptplex-changing-the-way-you-present.aspx

- Beatrice Nicolini -

SQL Server and Virtualization - can we help?

beatrice — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:07:00 GMT

Just discovered whilst at TechEd that Microsoft policies for SQL Server products that are running in a hardware virtualization environment are not much known as yet to the majority of the public.

Therefore the PFE in me :-) wants to be sure that when you opt for virtualization you are in a safe position to receive support from myself, my PFE colleagues or from GTSCs when things go wrong.

So, here's the deal:

Microsoft provides technical support for SQL Server 2005 and for SQL Server 2008 that are running in the following hardware virtualization environments:

•	Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V
•	Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008
•	Configurations that are certified through the Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP).

KB article http://support.microsoft.com/?id=956893 has been updated as the single resource to obtain information on support policies for SQL Server running in a hardware virtualization environment.

If you are looking to take advantage of virtualization, here are some must read articles you should look at:

WHITEPAPER: Running SQL Server 2008 in a Hyper-V Environment - Best Practices and Performance Recommendations

http://sqlcat.com/whitepapers/archive/2008/10/03/running-sql-server-2008-in-a-hyper-v-environment-best-practices-and-performance-recommendations.aspx

By the way, this is the blog from the SQL Cat team. One of my favorite RSS feeds on SQL ever!

Licencing - Virtualization and Multi-Instancing

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/special-considerations.aspx#Virtualization

Migrating a virtual machine from Virtual PC to Hyper-V

http://blogs.technet.com/andrew/archive/2008/06/30/migrating-a-virtual-machine-from-virtual-pc-to-hyper-v.aspx

- Beatrice Nicolini -

Ms Store Launches in UK!

beatrice — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:23:00 GMT

On the 2nd June 2008 Microsoft announced the launch of Microsoft Store in the UK.

Microsoft Store will bring together a wide range of our consumer products for the first time, allowing customers to explore and purchase through a single, online experience.

Customers have now the ability to buy Windows, Office, Expression via electronic download. This offers UK consumers the ability to use their software almost immediately as well as giving them piece of mind by knowing that their software and licence will be securely stored online.

To start now, try it at http://www.microsoftstore.co.uk/!

Microsoft Product Team Blog Directory

beatrice — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:39:00 GMT

Daniel, a colleague and friend of mine, has put together an incredibly comprehensive list of Microsoft Product Team Blogs which is very useful for every IT Professional working with Microsoft technologies.

I've already uploaded the SQL Server ones (most of which I've known already and I daily check out via RSS) on the left hand side of my blog - amongst the useful links.

Here is instead the complete list (updated on April 2008):

Security

Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC): http://blogs.technet.com/msrc

Forefront Client Security: http://blogs.technet.com/clientsecurity

Microsoft Update: http://blogs.technet.com/mu

Windows Server Update Services: http://blogs.technet.com/wsus

Anti-Malware Engineering: http://blogs.technet.com/antimalware

Windows Genuine Advantage: http://blogs.msdn.com/wga

BitBlocker Drive Encryption: http://blogs.technet.com/bitlocker

Windows Vista Security: http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsvistasecurity

Systems Management Products

Systems Centre: http://blogs.technet.com/systemcenter

Systems Centre Manageability: http://blogs.technet.com/smsandmom

Systems Centre Operations Manager: http://blogs.technet.com/momteam

Systems Centre Data Protection Manager: http://blogs.technet.com/dpm

Server/ Infrastructure Products

Microsoft Assessment and Planning: http://blogs.technet.com/mapblog

Enterprise Networking / Network Access Protection: http://blogs.technet.com/nap

Platforms Performance: http://blogs.technet.com/askperf

Windows Server Division: http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver

Windows Core Networking: http://blogs.msdn.com/wndp

Microsoft Exchange: http://msexchangeteam.com

ISA Server: http://blogs.technet.com/isablog

Terminal Services: http://blogs.msdn.com/ts

Windows Virtualization: http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization

SoftGrid: http://blogs.technet.com/softgrid

Windows Powershell: http://blogs.msdn.com/powershell

Storage: http://blogs.technet.com/filecab

Small Business Server: http://blogs.technet.com/sbs

Windows Home Server: http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver

Clustering and High Availability: http://blogs.msdn.com/clustering

Desktop/Mobile Products

Windows Vista: http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista

Windows Embedded (Vista, XPe, NT4e): http://blogs.msdn.com/embedded

Windows Mobile: http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile

Outlook Mobile: http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook_mobile

Tablet PC: http://blogs.technet.com/tabletpc

SQL Server

SQL Server User Education: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlserverue

SQL Server Development Customer Advisory: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlcat

SQL Server Engine: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqltips

SQL Server Manageability: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlrem

SQL Performance Engineering: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlperf

SQL Programmability and API: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlprogrammability

SQL Server Protocols: http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols

SQL Server Query Processing: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlqueryprocessing

SQL Server Security: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlsecurity

SQL Server Compact: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlservercompact

SQL Server Express: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress

Collaboration, Content and Records Management

Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS): http://communicationsserverteam.com

Office Communicator: http://communicatorteam.com

Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies: http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepoint

Microsoft SharePoint Developer: http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepointdeveloperdocs

Microsoft SharePoint Designer: http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepointdesigner

Enterprise Content Management: http://blogs.msdn.com/ecm

Records Management: http://blogs.msdn.com/recman

Microsoft Office System

Outlook: http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook

Excel / Excel Services: http://blogs.msdn.com/excel

Word: http://blogs.msdn.com/microsoft_office_word

Powerpoint: http://blogs.msdn.com/powerpoint

Access: http://blogs.msdn.com/access

InfoPath: http://blogs.msdn.com/infopath

Project: http://blogs.msdn.com/project

Visio: http://blogs.msdn.com/visio

Business Process Management

Microsoft Message Queuing: http://blogs.msdn.com/motleyqueue

BizTalk Server: http://blogs.msdn.com/biztalk_server_team_blog

BizTalk Adapter Pack: http://blogs.msdn.com/adapters

Web/ Development

Internet Explorer: http://blogs.msdn.com/ie

Internet Information Services (IIS): http://blogs.iis.net

Microsoft Web Deployment: http://blogs.iis.net/msdeploy

XML: http://blogs.msdn.com/xmlteam

Visual Studio Team Architect: http://blogs.msdn.com/vsarch

Visual Studio Extensibility: http://blogs.msdn.com/vsxteam

Microsoft Expression Web: http://blogs.msdn.com/xweb

Microsoft Expression Blend and Design: http://blogs.msdn.com/expression

Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: http://blogs.msdn.com/crm

Microsoft Dynamics NAV: http://blogs.msdn.com/nav

- Beatrice Nicolini -

SQL Server Monitor Gadget for Windows Vista Sidebar

beatrice — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:22:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about monitoring your SQL Server installation from Windows Vista Sidebar?

Well, you can install and download it for free at http://blogs.conchango.com/jamiethomson/archive/2007/08/09/Announcing-SQL-Server-Monitor-Gadget-for-Windows-Vista-Sidebar.aspx.

The gadget monitors a specified SQL Server database for various metrics and displays them on the Windows Vista Sidebar. It is provided for use by SQL Server DBAs that require a nice'n'easy way of monitoring important metrics on their SQL Server installations. In version 1 the gadget provides the following information:

Data file size - total file size of the database data files
Data file used - amount of used space on those data files
Data file used % - The percentage of the total data size that has been used
Log file size - total file size of the database log files
Log file used - amount of used space on those log files
Log file used % - The percentage of the total log size that has been used

Enjoy!

SQL Server 2005 Books Online Scoped Search

beatrice — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:02:00 GMT

A customized Windows Live search built by using Windows Live Search Macros, that limits results to SQL Server Books Online.

Try it at http://search.live.com/macros/sql_server_user_education/booksonline!

What are search Macros?
Have you ever wanted to use a search engine that was created specifically for your interests? Windows Live Search Macros are just that -- Custom-tailored search engines that give you more relevant search results for what you're interested in.

If you want to create your own, you can go to: http://search.live.com/macros/default.aspx?FORM=BJJK!

Slipstream of Service Packs on SQL Server 2005

beatrice — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:22:00 GMT

What if you want to install SP1 and SP2 together with SQL server 2005 setup?

Well, the answer is that you can't.

SQL Server 2005 supports slipstreaming of hot fixes on RTM, but not hot fixes on SP1 or SP2. I.e. SQL Server 2005 does not support slipstreaming of service packs

If you don't want to give up, you might be interested in this article I've read about InstallAware (http://www.installaware.com/).

Install Aware is a Microsoft Certified Partner, who has just released a software which promises to offer one-click deployment for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 with Service Pack 2.

For more information:

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/3/emw508615.htm

- Beatrice Nicolini -

Virtual PC 2007 RTM!

beatrice — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:54:00 GMT

Virtual PC 2007 is a powerful software virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple PC-based operating systems simultaneously on one workstation, providing a safety net to maintain compatibility with legacy applications while you migrate to a new operating system. It also saves reconfiguration time, so your support, development, and training staff can work more efficiently.

I must admit to use it every time I'm trying a new technology or just a new functionality of a specific product. In this way I can quickly create an ad-hoc environment for testing purposes, and I am sure to be able to quickly rollback in case of mistake!

Fancy trying it?

You can now download Virtual PC 2007 For free today from www.microsoft.com/virtualpc.

Virtual PC 2007 runs on: Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Windows Vista Ultimate.