Its nearly 90 days from SQL Server 2008 November CTP and as per the CTP release cycle (90 days) the next instalment of SQL 2008 may be ready by end of this month.

I feel that may be the last one before the RTM or as per the communication from Microsoft product development team feedback, but looking at the recent release postponement we may see another 1 or 2 CTPs for SQL Server 2008?

Also in the recent outcome of Data Platform Insider  blog refers that ...start of the global launch wave on February 27. The response to SQL Server 2008 has been overwhelmingly positive  – in fact, we now have more 100,000 downloads of our CTPs. What is catching users’ eyes? Scalability improvements, Resource Governor, Filestream, spatial data support, data compression, policy-based management….the list goes on and on.

Its a good news on the number of people trying out the new SQL Server version and within the Community there is a mixed response on the users deploying SQL Server 2008 when it is ready with RTM (Release To Manufacturing) and few are not ready until SQL 2008 Service Pack 1 is scheduled to release!

I would like to revisit the old blogs here about this new version of SQL Server that even though some of you actually have real jobs with real servers and might want to continue reading about SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2000, and perhaps even SQL Server 7.0 from time to time. But talking within the MVP community and User community will be having lots of  discussion on the latest and greatest tools coming down the pike and I have no doub in stating that talking about existing technology with upcoming releases is a real fun to dream about what we’ll have within the next 6 to 8 months or so.

So keep watching this space for next set of CTP instalment soon!