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Microsoft Releases 'Feature Complete' SQL Server 2008 CTP

A fully baked beta release of Microsoft's SQL Server 2008 is now available for testing.

A fully baked beta release of Microsoft's SQL Server 2008 is now available for testing. Microsoft released the "feature-complete" community technology preview (CTP) of the new SQL Server on Tuesday, February 19.

This CTP release comes just weeks after the company announced a delay in plans for its release-to-manufacturing version of the database server. Microsoft has already indicated that the release-to-manufacturing product would miss its goal of second-half 2008 delivery.

The CTP release is right on time, however. Microsoft predicted it would have its feature-complete CTP release available around the time of its enterprise software launch, which is scheduled to take place next week in Los Angeles.

At the launch event, Microsoft will begin the official debut of the 2008 versions of SQL Server, Visual Studio and Windows Server.

The new CTP adds several key features, including improved data compression, full text search and improvements to the Declarative Management Framework, which brings policy management to SQL Server.

The CTP is available now for download here.

About the Author

Jeffrey Schwartz is editor of Redmond magazine and also covers cloud computing for Virtualization Review's Cloud Report. In addition, he writes the Channeling the Cloud column for Redmond Channel Partner. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreySchwartz.

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