SQL Server 2008 (SSQA.net)

SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate - public download is available now.

In the past week SQL Server 2008 RC0 has been made available for early download by MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers. RC0 is the final step before SQL Server 2008 RTMs in Q3 of this year. After logging into their respective accounts, subscribers can view Product Keys and download SQL Server 2008 RC0 from the following links: MSDN subscribers: Download SQL Server 2008 RC0 & TechNet Plus subscribers: Download SQL Server 2008 RC0 links.

Also Tech-Ed conference has got more importance for the users to know more about pre-release of products, as in last year Katmai CTP was released officially and one year on as expected the SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (RC0) has been made public today from this downloads page.

Don't forget the best practice that install the RC0 on a VPC machine (Virtual Machine) than messing up with current SQL2008 February CTP environment (if at all you have). Like it refers in that download page don't forget:

• Before you install SQL Server 2008 RC0, read the following documents:
  

  • The one-page Readme.
    
  • The "Before You Install" section of the Release Notes and Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2008 on MSDN. Pay particular attention to information in the Release Notes about installing SQL Server 2008 Express (and Express Advanced), as well as about using Visual Studio with SQL Server 2008 RC0.
  
  
• Before you use Microsoft Visual Studio with SQL Server 2008 RC0, install the following updates:
  • For Visual Studio 2005, install Visual Studio 2005 Support for SQL Server 2008 RC0.
    
  • For Visual Studio 2008, install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 Beta.
  • For Visual Studio 2008 with SQL Server 2008 RC0 Express, download and install Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition with SP1 Beta .
  
  You can install support for both Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008.