Microsoft Releases Test Build of SQL Server 2005 Service Pack
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Microsoft released on Wednesday the first Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Service Pack (SP) 1 for its widely-used SQL Server database.
SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 will feature data-mirroring technology, functionality that Microsoft cut at the last minute from SQL Server 2005 due to customer quality concerns. The SP also includes SQL Server Management Studio Express, a front-end graphical tool for the Express version of Microsoft's database.
Database mirroring allows for automated database continuity in case of failure. As explained on Microsoft's product Web site, "(I)n the event of a failure of the primary system, applications can immediately reconnect to the database on the secondary server. The secondary instance detects failure of the primary server within seconds and accepts database connections immediately."
Microsoft's SQL Server development team, lead by Senior Vice President Paul Flessner, confirmed that the final service pack code should be ready in April, many months ahead of a typical service pack. Flessner said Microsoft's reliance on CTPs, rather than traditional betas, for testing the service pack will allow for speedier time to market.
Microsoft has not specified whether there will be additional service packs for SQL Server 2005 beyond SP1 before the final SP1 code ships.
The next full-fledged version of SQL Server is code named Katmai and is expected in 2007 or 2008.
The CTP is be available for download here: |
