SQL Server 2008 - what's new, a list would be nice?
SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (CTP) instalment 5 is ready to available for the users, I think this is the 3rd instalment since SQL 2008 is announced by Microsoft.
The Application support team have been asking for a list of new/enhanced features that are available in 2008 version, unfinished features in SQL 2005 will be incorporated as it seems. So here it goes about the list of features (high-level) that are embedded in 2008 version:
- Transparent Data Encryption
- External Key Management
- Data Auditing
- Pluggable CPU
- Transparent Failover for Database Mirroring
- Declarative Management Framework
- Server Group Management
- Streamlined Installation
- Enterprise System Management
- Performance Data Collection
- System Analysis
- Data Compression
- Query Optimization Modes
- Resource Governor
- Entity Data Model
- LINQ
- Visual Entity Designer
- Entity Aware Adapters
- SQL Server Change Tracking
- Synchronized Programming Model
- Visual Studio Support
- SQL Server Conflict Detection
- FILESTREAM data type
- Integrated Full Text Search
- Sparse Columns
- Large User Defined Types
- Date/Time Data Type
- LOCATION data type
- SPATIAL data type
- Virtual Earth Integration
- Partitioned Table Parallelism
- Query Optimizations
- Persistent Lookups
- Change Data Capture
- Backup Compression
- MERGE SQL Statement
- Data Profiling
- Star Join
- Enterprise Reporting Engine
- Internet Report Deployment
- Block Computations
- Scale out Analysis
- BI Platform Management
- Export to Word and Excel
- Author reports in Word and Excel
- Report Builder Enhancements
- TABLIX
- Rich Formatted Data
- Personalized Perspectives
… and many more
So you would think how to know more on this list of features, you are not missing much on this - refer to November 2007 update SQL Server 2008 Books Online CTP - update your local copies blog here.