If you’re like many small business owners, the news that Microsoft is weeks away from the release of a new version of SQL Server 2008 could seem utterly irrelevant to your interests. But it isn’t.

SQL Server 2008 R2, which ships this month, allows end users to tap into the powerful business intelligence features of SQL Server via tight integration with popular Microsoft applications like Excel.

Mainstream Features to Fringe Features to Anti-features Many new features in R2 simply make the product better. For example, the new multi-server management features make perfect sense. With the ...

I have taught several classes on the new features of SQL Server 2008, made a Web Seminar and written a Whitepaper on the subject. I have also attended the SQL PASS Summit in Seattle where there were ...

SQL Server, Microsoft's flagship operational database, has been around for over a quarter century now. That has meant successive waves of innovation for the platform, but has also made for ...

PowerShell now comes with an Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) module that introduces over 75 Active Directory cmdlets. From a script or the new Graphical PowerShell user interface, you can ...

Ahead of Microsoft Build (and a possible SQL Server announcement), let's break down what we know and speculate about what we don't. One topic that has come up in several conversations with customers ...

I recently completed a book on Windows Server 2008 where I highlight at the end of each chapter the features coming in Release 2. I was especially curious about four Active Directory features, so ...

When a new version of one of my favorite products ships, one of the first things I do is open the online help and read "What's New in This Release." I usually look at the new features from two levels.