Jul 16, 2011 08:33 GMT  ·  By

Early adopters have been able to start testing the third Community Technology Preview of SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali this week.

Microsoft is offering not only CTP3 of the plain vanilla SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali, but also of the Express Core feature.

Testers interested in taking SQL Server codenamed Denali Express Core CTP3 out for a spin need to head over the Microsoft Download Center where the bits are offered free of charge. (download link via Softpedia at the bottom of this article)

“The Microsoft SQL Server code name 'Denali' Express Core (CTP 3) is a powerful and reliable free data management system that delivers a rich set of features, data protection, and performance for embedded applications, lightweight Web Sites, applications, and local data stores,” Microsoft said.

“Designed for easy deployment and rapid prototyping, this download includes support for Sysprep, Microsoft's System Preparation Utility for Microsoft Windows operating system deployment.”

Both SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali CTP3 and SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali Express Core CTP3 are available free of charge at this point in time.

Early adopters can test the technology without paying anything for a license, but need to provide feedback to Microsoft.

As the development process will be wrapped up and the next generation of the company’s data platform will be readied for commercial availability, customers will need to pay in order to leverage SQL Server 2012, but not SQL Server 2012 Express, which will remain free.

Microsoft has yet to announce officially the label for Codenamed Denali, but most likely it will be SQL Server 2012.

“New to SQL Express is SQL Server Express LocalDB. LocalDB is a new lightweight version of Express that has all its programmability features, yet runs in user mode and has a fast, zero-configuration installation and short list of pre-requisites. To try, simply check the box when prompted during your installation of Express Core,” the software giant added.

SQL Server codenamed Denali Express Core CTP3 is available for download here.

SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali CTP3 is available for download here.