Given my previous post on how the SQL Server tools suck
its only fair for me to point out what has been added/improved in SQL Server
2008
|
Title |
Component |
Advantage |
What's the big deal? |
|
Connection String Additions |
Connection Panel |
User Productivity |
Users can enter
additional connection strings, which enables full use of Analysis
Services. Previously, there was no way to connect with special behavior to
AS. |
|
Data
Collector |
Framework |
Increased
management information |
Allows
automatic, declarative collection of trace data, performance counters or
transact-sql queries into a single database collection system. |
|
Installation
Enhancements |
Installation |
Increased speed
in install |
Re-worked UI to
enable faster installations. Also, SSMS Express is now a combined codeset
with SSMS (although with less features), allowing a consistent management
experience. SSMS can now also be shipped "out of band", meaning that
releases of CE can be combined with SSMS so that you don't have to wait on
a service pack to connect to CE. |
|
Policy Based
Management (formerly DMF) |
Management
Framework |
Pro-active
management |
Policy-based framework for managing, controlling and
monitoring a SQL Server instance. |
|
Resource
Governor |
Management
Framework |
Greater control
of system resources |
Enables you to specify limits on the amount of CPU and
memory that incoming application requests can
use. |
|
PowerShell
integrated to work with SQL Server |
PowerShell |
Total and
complete scripting control |
PowerShell, which will ship with SQL Server, is now
aware of SQL Server 2008 objects. You have the full scripting constructs
of PowerShell against SQL Server Objects. Navigate the SQL Server instance
using "CD" commands. |
|
Create a Data
Collector Set (for Data Collector) from a Profiler Trace |
Profiler |
Use the same
tool to monitor as to control |
You can use a
Profiler trace definition to create a data collector set, which allows you
to find expensive queries and control them. |
|
Profiler
Improvements |
Profiler |
Profiler
launchable from SSMS. |
Profiler can be
launched directly from a Query Editor Results window to the SPID of the
query. |
|
Multi-Server
Query |
Query
Editor |
Run a query
against multiple servers |
Run a single
query across multiple server. Results have the server name pre-pended to
them. Results show in a color-customizable result set. |
|
Intellisense |
Query
Editor |
Auto-fill for
keywords and objects, prevents mistakes, increases speed |
Shows proper
syntax and object names automatically. |
|
Customizable
tabs in Query Editor |
Query
Editor |
Better
navigation |
You can set the
tab text at the top of the results pane. |
|
Launch Profiler
from Query Editor |
Query
Editor |
Quick access to
activity information |
You can launch
Profiler directly from a Query Editor Results window to the SPID of the
query. |
|
Error List in
Query Editor |
Query
Editor |
Recall last
errors in T-SQL |
Shows a list of
the last errors generated by Query Editor |
|
New Right-Click
options on Results Grid |
Query Results
Window |
Easier Export
of data |
Users can now
select a range of rows in the Results Grid and copy the headings as well.
Also, you can select individual cells and copy them with headers if you
wish. |
|
Framework
Improvements for SSMS |
SQL Server
Management Studio |
Increased
Performance |
Multiple
internal code cleanups and fixes to improve the load time of the Object
Explorer tree to over 20 times it's current performance. Also takes much
less memory per object to load. |
|
Object
Search |
SQL Server
Management Studio |
Quickly locate
and work on SQL Server objects |
Using PBM (DMF)
under the covers, the user enters a full or partial string to match, which
is searched within the current database to bring objects into Object
Explorer Details. |
|
Speed
Enhancements |
SSMS |
Increased
performance |
Multiple fixes
and framework changes to enable faster loading, and faster population.
Connection consolidations where possible to take a lighter load on the
server. |
|
Activity
Monitor built for the DBA |
SSMS |
Quickly
diagnose performance data with little overhead |
The new
Activity Monitor was written from the ground up with the perspective of
the DBA needing to chase down a performance problem in real time. Modeled
after the new Windows Resource Monitor, DBAs can quickly see the active
sessions, wait states, file I/O, and long running queries in a command
console like UI. |
|
UI Framework
Enhancements |
SSMS |
Better feedback
and navigation |
A new "info
bar" appears in many screens that guide the user with pre-validation
(saving time and frustration) and visual navigation cues. |
|
New Object
Explorer Details Pane |
SSMS |
Quick access to
customizable information |
The header
columns for each object can be selected. Selections are saved.
Single-click on object instantly returns property information in a sizable
panel at the bottom of SSMS like Vista. |
|
Security -
Admin can reset password |
SSMS |
Easier to
manage security |
The Security
Admin can now reset a password for a user from SSMS. |
|
Security - More
information on effective permissions |
SSMS |
Easier to
determine permissions |
Enhanced the
"effective permissions" display to show exactly what a principal has
access to. |
|
Security -
reduced clicks for permissions |
SSMS |
Faster
implementation of security |
Reworked the
screens to make it easier and faster to set permissions |
|
"Open Table"
enhancements |
SSMS |
Takes a lighter
load on the server |
A limited
amount of rows is returned to the "Open Table" dialog to avoid taking
locks and load on server. |
|
Database
Diagram/Table Designer safety additions |
SSMS |
Prevents
accidental operations |
The Table
Designer and Database Designer tools have been reworked so that safety
checks are taken for operations that would drop an object or cause data
loss. |
|
Activity
Monitor can launch Profiler |
SSMS |
Instant access
to activity information |
Activity
Monitor can launch SQL Server Profiler for the SPID it is centered on. |
|
Showplan -
Extract Query from graphical plan |
SSMS |
Quickly show a
query from a graphical display |
You can
right-click a graphical showplan and extract the SQL query that generated
it. |
|
Showplan -
Extract XML from graphic |
SSMS |
Quickly access
query breakdown |
You can
right-click a showplan graphic and see the XML version of the plan. |
|
Showplan - XML
is now formatted |
SSMS |
Improved
visualization |
The XML created
by the showplan is now formatted instead of showing as a large string. |
|
The
sys.dm_exec_query_plan XML output can generate graphic |
SSMS |
You can go from
the xml to the graphical plan in a single click |
The output from
the sys.dm_exec_query_plan stored procedure includes an XML column of the
query plan. Clicking it now generates a graphical display of the
query. |
|
Performance
Studio |
SSMS |
Complete
performance tuning information with navigable reports |
Tracks
historical performance metrics from SQL Server and the operating system,
stores them in a repository, using drill-through reports. |
|
Configuration
Servers |
SSMS |
Register
servers at a central location |