Overview

SQL Server 2008, the next release of Microsoft SQL Server, will provide a comprehensive data platform that is more secure, reliable, manageable and scalable for your mission critical applications, while enabling developers to create new applications that can store and consume any type of data on any device, and enabling all your users to make informed decisions with relevant insights.

Power Search

Indexed Search Across Rich Data Types

•  XML: Primary and secondary index options
• New Spatial: Multilevel, tunable grid index
• New HierarchyId: Depth or breadth options

New Integrated Fulltext Search

• Indexes and catalogs maintained inside engine
• Dramatic performance and manageability improvements
• Supports FILESTREAM

Other Enhancements

• Filtered Index, Filtered Statistics, Multiple Bitmap Filters

Gain Insight

Data Is An Asset: Exploit Hidden Opportunities

• On-Demand / Subscription Based Reporting
• Explorative Reporting and Analysis

SQL Server 2008: Built-In Business Intelligence

• Integration Services: High Performance ETL Pipeline
• Analysis Services: Powerful OLAP and Data Mining
  
  • New design guidance, time series data mining algorithm
• Reporting Services:  Enterprise Reporting Platform
  • New scalable architecture, improved report design

Solution Development Opportunities

• Automated Data Mining
• Operational Reporting Solutions
• Value-Added Reporting and Analytics Solutions
• Data Warehouse Solutions

Word 2007

• Render rich, visual SSRS reports as word documents

Excel 2007

• Explorative and visual analysis client, Data-Mining Addins

Visio 2007

• Visualize data mining with Visio

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server

• Publish findings to Excel Services
• Create rich dashboards
• Reporting Services SharePoint Integration

New Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server

• Plan and project key business drivers
• Monitor with rich dashboards and KPI’s
• Analyze performance with advanced visualizations

SQL Server Mission_Critical Applications:

 
SQL Server 2008 Data Platform Evolution:

 

SQL Server 2008 Platform Assets

 

Data Access

SQLServer 2008 Solutions

• Business Intelligence
  SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence platform provides a scalable infrastructure that enables information technology to drive business intelligence throughout your organization and deliver intelligence where users want it. Learn more
• Data Warehousing
  Microsoft SQL Server 2008 provides a comprehensive view of the business, by increasing the freshness of the data, incorporating all your systems, and validating the data while reducing the burden on your IT department. Learn more
• Online Transaction Processing
  SQL Server 2008 provides a scalable, high performance database engine for mission-critical applications that require the highest levels of availability and security, while reducing the total cost of ownership through enhanced enterprise-class manageability. Learn more
• Application Development
  The Application Development solution provides developers with a comprehensive programming framework, web services and data connectivity technologies to efficiently access and manage disparate data. Learn more
• Server Consolidation
  SQL Server 2008 reduces hardware and maintenance costs by providing a flexible server consolidation solution with enterprise-class manageability and performance.Learn more

Resources

• Engage with the Channel 9 SQL Server community at http://channel9.msdn.com/sql
• Learn more about data programmability http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/technologies/dataprogrammability.mspx
• Learn more about spatial data http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/technologies/spatial.mspx
• Learn more about SQL Server 2008 http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/default.mspx
• Discover SQL Server 2008: Webcasts, Virtual Labs, and White Papers http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/learning/default.mspx
• SQL Server 2008 training http://www.microsoft.com/learning/sql/2008/default.mspx
• Join the SQL PASS community http://www.sqlpass.org
• Download and contribute to the End-to-End Community Samples on CodePlex at http://www.codeplex.com/SQLSrvE2E/
• Download the current CTP http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/prodinfo/download.mspx
• Check out Roger’s blog http://blogs.msdn.com/rdoherty/
• Check out Zach’s blog http://blogs.msdn.com/zowens/ 

Please take also a view on all the following new available information sources about the highlights of the June CTP:
 
SQL Server 2008 Overview: On-demand webcast New!
Listen to Dave Campbell's June 4th presentation at TechEd regarding SQL Server 2008 (200 level). All other SQL Server related webcasts (live and on-demand) at TechEd can be found here.

SQL Server 2008 Product Overview: Whitepaper New!
Learn about the Microsoft Data Platform Vision and how SQL Server 2008 meets the needs of the next generation of data-driven applications.

Four Pillars of SQL Server 2008 (Jun 04, 2007)
Learn more about the four technology themes upon which SQL Server 2008 is built.

SQL Server 2008 June CTP highlights (Jun 04, 2007)
Learn more about specific improvements in the June CTP that align with the four pillars.

MSDN SQL Server Forums
Have questions? Discuss SQL Server 2008 with our developers, MVPs, and the entire SQL Server community.

Did you miss our June CTP Live Meeting Series?
Miss our previous LiveMeeting events in June?  You can always view the recordings from the live events at your own leisure.

SQL Server Product Site
Visit the SQL Server 2008 Product site for product information, marketing whitepapers, webcasts, and videos.

SQL Server Connect Feedback
We want to hear from you! Tell us about any bugs you find or difficulties you encounter, and what you want to see in SQL Server 2008 for this and future releases. We appreciate your feedback!

MSDN SQL Server Forums
Have questions? Run into an issue and you could use some feedback?  Discuss SQL Server 2008 with our developers, MVPs, and the entire SQL Server community.

CodePlex Community Samples
Want to see different samples and uses of SQL Server code?  Visit CodePlex and look at real world examples. 

SQL Server 2008 Overview: On-demand webcast (Jun 06, 2007)
Listen to Dave Campbell's June 4th presentation at TechEd regarding SQL Server 2008 (200 level). All other SQL Server related webcasts (live and on-demand) at TechEd can be found here.

SQL Server 2008 Product Overview: Whitepaper (Jun 06, 2007)
Learn about the Microsoft Data Platform Vision and how SQL Server 2008 meets the needs of the next generation of data-driven applications.

Live Webcasts

MSDN Webcast: Building Adaptive Applications with SQL Server Data Mining (Level 300)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
1:00 P.M.–2:00 P.M. Pacific Time

MSDN Webcast: SQL Server 2008 Advanced Troubleshooting with Extended Events (Level 200)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
9:00 A.M.–10:00 A.M. Pacific Time

MSDN Webcast: Extending and Customizing SQL Server Data Mining (Level 300)
Monday, November 19, 2007
1:00 P.M.–2:00 P.M. Pacific Time

MSDN Webcast: Creating Visualizations for SQL Server Data Mining (Level 300)
Friday, November 30, 2007
11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. Pacific Time

MSDN Webcast: New T-SQL Programmability Features in SQL Server 2008 (Level 300)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
1:00 P.M.–2:00 P.M. Pacific Time

View All Live Webcasts

Top On-Demand Webcasts

MSDN Webcast: Entity Framework for Database Administrators (Level 200)
Original Air Date: September 28, 2007

New MSDN Webcast: Build Smart Web Applications with SQL Server Data Mining (Level 200)
Original Air Date: November 2, 2007

New MSDN Webcast: Building Spatial Applications with SQL Server 2008 (Level 300)
Original Air Date: November 1, 2007

MSDN Webcast: Programming SQL Server 2008 (Level 300)
Original Air Date: September 17, 2007