14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just reached a new milestone in the evolution of its SQL Server 2012 with the availability of an RC0 flavor, bringing customers and partners one step closer to the full value of SQL Server 2012.
The new RC0 version of SQL Server 2012 replaces the Community Technology Preview (CTP) 3 that was made available for download in summer.
Some of the enhancements that were packed with it include capabilities for increased mission critical confidence, such as multiple secondaries in SQL Server AlwaysOn and multi-tenancy enhancements with Resource Governor.
At the same time, the new release comes with additional functionality in the Power View (”Crescent”) data-exploration and visualization tool, such as Change Data Capture support for Oracle with support for heterogeneous data with Data Warehouses.
Another important change in the new SQL Server 2012 Release Candidate involves the possibility to snapshot backups in Windows Azure from inside Management Studio.
The main features of SQL Server 2012 RC include:
- Deliver required uptime and data protection with AlwaysOn - Gain breakthrough & predictable performance with ColumnStore Index - Help enable security and compliance with new User-defined Roles and Default Schema for Groups - Enable rapid data discovery for deeper insights across the organization with ColumnStore Index - Ensure more credible, consistent data with SSIS improvements, a Master Data Services add-in for Excel, and new Data Quality Services - Optimize IT and developer productivity across server and cloud with Data-tier Application Component (DAC) parity with SQL Azure and SQL Server Data Tools for a unified dev experience across database, BI, and cloud functions.
The new RC comes as the foundation for a cloud-ready information platform through which companies will be able to take advantage of great insights across the organization.
SQL Server 2012 will also enable the building of new products and the expanding of data across on-premises and public cloud, while providing increased reliability.
In other words, the new SQL Server 2012 RC brings along the necessary tools for companies to become increasingly competitive in today's market.
The new SQL Server 2012 Release Candidate is available for download from Softpedia as well, via this link.