SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse Postponed

Microsoft has postponed the release of SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse, formerly codenamed “Madison.” The Redmond company was initially planning to have SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse out by mid-2010, but it looks like that will not happen. Up to this point in time, the software giant has only indicated that the launch deadline was pushed back, but it has not specified when exactly customers will be able to get their hands on the product. For the time being, Microsoft continues to test-drive and build SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse, and customers should not expect a release until the second half of 2010.

“We continue to make steady progress towards the release of Parallel Data Warehouse. Although our intent was to deliver SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse in the first half of 2010, we are still gathering customer feedback and working to ensure the high quality release our customers expect. Based on feedback from the customer Technology Adoption Program, we expect to announce more specific release timing, final configurations and pricing for our hardware partners in early summer (northern hemisphere),” a member of the SQL Server team stated.

A new development milestone of SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse became available for download at the start of this month. Concomitantly with the shipping of the latest, and also final, Technology Preview of SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse, Microsoft also went live with the Technology Adoption Program (TAP) for its data platform edition that includes the DATAllegro technology.

An email address is available for customers looking to test the latest CTP of SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse or to join TAP: mdsontap at microsoft.com.

“This Technology Preview offers customers the following benefits: high scalability to hundreds of terabytes and high performance through an MPP (Massively Parallel Processing) architecture; hardware choice with appliances planned for HP, Dell, IBM and Bull; comprehensive BI platform with integration to compelling Microsoft BI tools such as PowerPivot, Reporting Services, Analysis Services and Integration Services,” the SQL Server team member added.