Here are the few important links that you might be interested to get to know about SQL Server 2008 R2 (CTP) and SQLAzure platform.

 

Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure

This release features the SQL Azure provider for Microsoft Sync Framework, a plug-in for Visual Studio 2008 Professional SP1 and the tool SQL Azure Data Sync Tool for SQL Server, all of which simplify using Sync Framework and SQL Azure together.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=bce4ad61-5b76-4101-8311-e928e7250b9a  

 

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview Feature Pack

The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Feature Pack is a collection of stand-alone packages which provide additional value for SQL Server 2008 R2.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=020ee0d5-bce4-4a45-9d64-b0c49c8831e5  

 

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview End User License Agreements

The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 End User License Agreements provide the legal terms and conditions for using the SQL Server 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview core software

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=80bb26aa-3fbd-483b-ac36-006d496ee58a  

 

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 November CTP StreamInsight Refresh

Microsoft® SQL Server® StreamInsight is Microsoft’s new Complex Event Processing technology to help businesses derive better insights by correlating event streams from multiple sources with near-zero latency.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=01c664e4-1c98-4fc8-93ee-08cc039503c1  

 

Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure

This release features the SQL Azure provider for Microsoft Sync Framework, a plug-in for Visual Studio 2008 Professional SP1 and the tool SQL Azure Data Sync Tool for SQL Server, all of which simplify using Sync Framework and SQL Azure together.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=bce4ad61-5b76-4101-8311-e928e7250b9a  

 

SQL Server 2008 R2 Books Online CTP November 2009

Download the a community technology preview (CTP) release version of the documentation and tutorials for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=c18bad82-0e5f-4e82-812b-5b23e5d52b9c  

 

SQL 2008

 

Microsoft SQL Server Protocol Documentation

The Microsoft SQL Server protocol documentation provides technical specifications for Microsoft proprietary protocols that are implemented and used in Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=91ef5106-944a-41e1-b3a0-5bd3f2356f32  

 

SQL Server 2008 R2 Books Online CTP November 2009

Download the a community technology preview (CTP) release version of the documentation and tutorials for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=c18bad82-0e5f-4e82-812b-5b23e5d52b9c  

 

IT Compliance Management Series

The IT Compliance Management Series is intended for IT managers, professionals, and partners who must configure Microsoft products to address specific IT governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) requirements. Successful implementation of the recommendations in this series will allow organizations to shift the enforcement and management of IT GRC requirements onto underlying Microsoft technologies.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=bd930882-0d39-4900-9a79-b91f213ed15d  

 

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Books Online (July 2009)

Download the documentation and tutorials for Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=765433f7-0983-4d7a-b628-0a98145bcb97