14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is serving up a comprehensive collection of free resources, built around its top products and designed to permit users to test-drive a luxuriant variety of solutions, before dropping a single cent on them. The latest two such examples involve SQL Server 2008 and Exchange Server 2007. Two virtual hard disk images have been made available as free downloads, offering users the SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (November 2007), as well as Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 VHD - 32-bit version.
The VHD for SQL Server 2008 November CTP is nothing more than a pre-configured virtual hard disk that is aimed for integration with Virtual Server 2005 R2. Weighing in at some 2280.6 MB, the VHD is quite a hefty download, so make sure to plan ahead for it. "SQL Server 2008, the next release of Microsoft SQL Server, will provide a comprehensive data platform that is more secure, reliable, manageable and scalable for your mission critical applications, while enabling developers to create new applications that can store and consume any type of data on any device, and enabling all your users to make informed decisions with relevant insights," revealed Microsoft.
The first service pack for Exchange Server 2007 can also be tested and evaluated as a virtual hard disk image. This way, Microsoft has simply taken the pains out of the deployment process. But, unlike the VHD for SQL Server 2008 November CTP, the image of Exchange Server 2007 SP1 can also be integrated with Virtual PC 2007, in addition to Virtual Server 2005 R2.
"Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 provides built-in protection technologies to help keep the e-mail system up and running and better protected from outside threats while allowing employees to work from wherever they are using a variety of clients including Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Web Access, and mobile devices. Exchange Server 2007 SP1 makes it easier for IT to deliver these new capabilities to their organizations by making the messaging environment easier to manage and more cost efficient," Microsoft explained.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (November 2007) VHD can be downloaded from here.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 VHD - 32-bit version is available via this link.