December 2008 - Posts

• SQL Server 2005 SP3 Released

  Last week Microsoft released Service Pack 3 for SQL Server 2005. Just in time for Christmas and not a moment too soon from my perspective with a lot of Cumulative Updates (11 to be exact), and a critical security fix bundled up inside as well... The Service Pack is relevant to all supported server platforms (IA64, x64 & x86), oh and express edition too... The Service Pack is cumulative, and it upgrades all versions of SQL Server 2005 to SP3 (9.00.4035) SP3 Download Link  SP3 Readme Information  SP3 Fixes and Features I do like the CU and SP methodology, but I'd really like to see Service Packs released more frequently allowing us to stabilise on robustly tested bases every 3-6 months rather than every 1 year plus. This is of course a "near" perfect world senario as I couldn't account for how intensely complex the testing and resourcing coordination is when you want to certify fixes and features that are interdependant between SQL Core, Tools, AS and RS etc..! On this "complexity and coordination" thread, Cumulative update 1 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 has also been released, as it encapsulates hotfixes that were made to SP2 CU's 10 & 11 that did not make it into the testing cycle for SP3... Its your call whether or not you make your next base SP3+CU1 or just vanilla SP3... Information about SQL Server 2005 SP3 CU1 For detailed info on the Cumulative Update and Service Pack strategy see "Understanding Incremental Servicing Model for SQL Server" FYI also: SQL Server 2005 Builds released after SP2 Posted Dec 23 2008, 11:59 AM by Charley Hanania with 1 comment(s) Filed under: SQL Server 2005

• Hot off the press! - FREE copy of SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition!

  These are the types of days when being a community leader puts a smile on my face... Microsoft Switzerland are putting a lot of effort into building Communities here in Switzerland! User Group Leaders have enjoyed a lot of support and interaction with them at our events and meetings over the years through the SwissITPro User Group, and they've again met this challenge by supporting the adoption of the new PASS website in Switzerland! Every registered member on the new Swiss PASS Chapter website is to receive a FREE copy of SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition. Terms and conditions etc are on the site, and its looking to be a very exciting year ahead with the events and work we've got planned! Its great to see that the efforts of User Group Leaders such as Desmond Lee, Dejan Foro and myself receive support from Microsoft and our other partners... It certainly makes our task easier, and adding value to the community as volunteers all the more rewarding! See you on the site! Posted Dec 11 2008, 08:21 AM by Charley Hanania with no comments Filed under: SQL Server 2008, Swiss PASS Chapter, PASS, Free Offer

• European PASS Conference 2009!

  Bigger and better than ever, the next European PASS Conference will take place between the 22nd & 24th of April 2009 in Neuss, Germany. The conference was great earlier this year, and I'm really looking forward to the next one! Details are still being finalised but attendees will be able to choose from 2 (or maybe more - shhh) technical preconference workshops and even more technical sessions on SQL Server & Business Intelligence than last April, as well as discuss new and improved SQL Server-based technologies and services with exhibitors and sponsors at the Expo held during the conference. For details, visit http://www.european-pass-conference.com or contact your Regional PASS Chapter Leader. The call for speakers is going to be sent out soon, I'll be blogging about it once its out, as I've received an incredible amount of questions about it! Its going to be GREAT! So, details: European PASS Conference 2009 April 22-24, 2009 Swissôtel Neuss, Germany www.european-pass-conference.com   Oh! and did I mention the Swiss PASS Chapter website is up?!? Posted Dec 09 2008, 11:58 PM by Charley Hanania with no comments Filed under: PASS, European PASS Conference

• Swiss PASS Chapter Website is live! http://www.sqlpass.ch

  Just a very very Quick update to as I've been offline for a while at TechEd EMEA IT Forum, the PASS Summit in Seattle and generally up to my ears in work! The Swiss PASS website is now online focussed on delivering content, news and materials to the SQL Server Community in general but also focussed on what the Swiss / European communities will be asking for, so check it out!  I'll be doing a membership rally soon with a giveaway (TBA) and there are some major events coming up that I'll be blogging about but registrations and discounts will be available to members through the site.   website: http://www.sqlpass.ch ... Check it out and let me know what else you'd like incorporated! Cheers, Charley. Posted Dec 03 2008, 04:40 AM by Charley Hanania with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Swiss PASS Chapter, PASS