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Save the date - Feb 27 2008 - The release of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008
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Microsoft will release Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 together on Feb. 27, 2008 in what will be the company's single largest launch ever.
The commitment to a final ship date for Windows Server 2008 ends months of speculation about when the product will actually be available to customers. Microsoft has until now only said it would release the code to manufacturing by the end of 2007, leading many to correctly predict that would be in early 2008.
More details in the near future....
Cheers
Itay
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Active Directory Explorer v1.0
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Hi
You might find this tool handy, especially if you are using Windows Authentication and want to see who is a member of the AD roles mapped to the SQL Server Logins
Cheers,
Itay
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/adexplorer.mspx
Introduction
Active Directory Explorer (AD Explorer) is an advanced Active Directory (AD) viewer and editor. You can use AD Explorer to easily navigate an AD database, define favorite locations, view object properties and attributes without having to open dialog boxes, edit permissions, view an object's schema, and execute sophisticated searches that you can save and re-execute.
AD Explorer also includes the ability to save snapshots of an AD database for off-line viewing and comparisons. When you load a saved snapshot, you can navigate and explorer it as you would a live database. If you have two snapshots of an AD database you can use AD Explorer's comparison functionality to see what objects, attributes and security permissions changed between them.
AD Explorer works on Windows 2000 and higher.
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SQL Server Support Lifetimes / Customer Actions
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This communication answers customer and field questions regarding timeframes for SQL Server support, as well as options available to customers, as of 7/11/2007. Any previous SQL Server versions not listed below, have been and remain out of technical support.
Also blogged here.
First, some terminology clarifications.
Mainstream Support:
Technical Support through Microsoft Customer Support Services. This includes Hotfix Support and Security Update Support.
Extended Support:
Technical Support through Microsoft Customer Support Services. This includes Security Update Support only. No non-security hotfixes will be offered without extended / custom support agreements.
Mainstream support for SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) and Mainstream support for SQL Server 2005 SP1 will both end on April 8, 2008. Microsoft will continue technical support for these versions, which also includes security updates for these Service Packs. Microsoft is ending Mainstream support for these products as part of our Service Pack support policy, found http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle .
Customers are encouraged to prepare and execute on their upgrade plans as early as possible for two versions going out of Mainstream (hotfix) support on 4/8/2008
SQL Server 2000 SP4
SQL Server 2005 SP1
Remaining current on your service pack installation ensures that your products remain supported per the Support Lifecycle policy. Additionally, your software benefits from the many enhancements, fixes, and security updates provided through the latest service pack.
Microsoft is offering Custom Support for companies that have not had a chance to migrate, but wish to maintain their existing IT environment while they migrate to a supported product. If you would like further information on Custom Support please contact your Technical Account Manager or Account Representative for additional details. Custom and extended support is currently offered for:
SQL Server 2000 SP3a
SQL Server 2000 SP4
Below is a more detailed table listing versions in or close to end of the support cycle, together with possible options / actions.
|
Product |
Version |
SP |
Mainstream Support End Date |
Extended Support End Date |
Options / Notes |
|
SQL Server |
2000 |
SP3a |
01/07/2003 |
07/10/2007 |
See previous blog; Technical support ends as of 7/10/2007; options after this date:
ð Continue with self-help
ð Upgrade to SQL Server 2005 SP1 or SP2
ð Custom support agreement |
|
SQL Server |
2000 |
SP4 |
04/08/2008 |
04/09/2013 |
Technical support continues till 4/9/2013, yet mainstream (hotfix) support ends as of 4/8/2008; options for hotfix support after 4/8/2008:
ð Upgrade to SQL Server 2005 SP1 or SP2
ð Purchase extended support agreement
ð Customers are encouraged to prepare and execute on their upgrade plans as early as possible |
|
SQL Server |
2005 |
RTM (SP0) |
07/10/2007 |
07/10/2007 |
Technical support ends as of 7/10/2007; options for technical and/or mainstream (hotfix) support after this date:
ð Continue with self-help
ð Upgrade to SQL Server 2005 SP1 or SP2
ð No custom or extended support offerings are planned at this time; customers should work with their TAMs for custom support needs. |
|
SQL Server |
2005 |
SP1 |
04/08/2008 |
Not Applicable |
Support ends either 12 or 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. Visit the Lifecycle page to find the support |
|
SQL Server |
2005 |
SP2 |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Support ends either 12 or 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. Visit the Lifecycle page to find the support timelines for your particular product. |
|
SQL CE |
2000 |
2.0 |
01/08/2008 |
01/08/2013 |
Technical support continues till 1/8/2013, yet mainstream (hotfix) support ends as of 1/8/2008; options for hotfix support after 1/8/2008:
ð Upgrade to SQL CE 3.0 or SQLCE 3.1
ð Purchase extended support agreement
ð Customers are encouraged to prepare and execute on their upgrade plans as early as possible |
Thanks
Itay Braun
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Incremental Servicing Model
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The SQL Server team has moved away from the current priority-driven hotfix release model to a scheduled delivery model, called Incremental Servicing Model, designed to ensure that high quality fixes are delivered within an acceptable amount of time and on a predictable schedule.
The Incremental Servicing Model includes two ways to get fixes.
- On-Demand and Critical-on-Demand: this method is used for problems that are impacting customers' applications and can't be addressed with work-arounds. On-Demand Hotfixes will be delivered as quickly as possible, by a date that the customer and Microsoft both agree to.
The hotfix can be requested by any customer, regardless of their support offering, as long as it meets the criteria for the request.
- Cumulative updates: these fixes will include all On-Demand Hotfixes that have been released leading up to the delivery of the cumulative update, as well as fixes created for less critical problems that don't meet the urgency requirements of the On-Demand Hotfixes.
Cumulative updates will be delivered every 2 months.
The hotfix can be requested by any customer, regardless of their support offering.
A GDR instead addresses an issue that has a broad customer impact, that has security implications, or that has both and will be released through the download center. A GDR is also released through Microsoft Update, through Windows Update, or through both.
For more information:
An Incremental Servicing Model is available from the SQL Server team to deliver hotfixes for reported problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/935897/en-us
Beatrice
Premier Field Engineer - SQL Server
Microsoft Services - UK
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End of Support for SQL 2000 SP3a
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End of Support for SQL 2000 SP3a
Microsoft would like to remind customers that support for SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3a (SP3a) will end on July 10, 2007.
Microsoft will end technical support on this date, which also includes security updates for this Service Pack. Microsoft is ending support for this product as part of our Service Pack support policy, found http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle.
Customers running SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3a are encouraged to migrate to SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 or SQL Server 2005. Remaining current on your service pack installation ensures that your products remain supported per the Support Lifecycle policy. Additionally, your software benefits from the many enhancements, fixes, and security updates provided through the latest service pack.
Cheers
Itay Braun
Veni Vidi Fixit
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Microsoft SQL Server Management Pack Guide for Microsoft Operations Manager 2005
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Hello everyone.
I used this document recently and because I noticed no one mentioned it in the community I decided to write a short post about it. The document (78 pages) covers all you need to know about using the SQL Server Management Pack for Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005.
Even if you don't have MOM you might get some "inspiration" about what should you monitor
Itay Braun
Premier Field Engineer - SQL Server
Microsoft Services - UK
Veni Vidi Fixit