14 DAY TRIAL // SQL Server 2012 codenamed Denali CTP3 is now available for download from Microsoft. The third Community Technology Preview of codenamed Denali, the next major version of the software giant’s data platform was published on the Microsoft Download Center this week. Softpedia readers have already received a heads-up related to the imminent availability of SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali CTP3 yesterday, although at the time of my article there wasn’t a specific launch deadline made public.
“Microsoft SQL Server code name 'Denali' enables a cloud-ready information platform that will help organizations unlock breakthrough insights across the organization as well as quickly build solutions and extend data across on-premises and public cloud backed by capabilities for mission critical confidence,” the company said.
Microsoft continues to refer to the successor of SQL Server 2008 R2 as SQL Server codenamed Denali, and nothing more.
However, although the software giant is yet to announce the official label for its next generation data platform, codenamed Denali will most likely be offered to customers as SQL Server 2012 when it becomes generally available.
As with all pre-release Builds of its software products, SQL Server 2012 codenamed Denali CTP3 is offered for testing purposes and not to be leveraged into production environments.
Testing automatically involves feedback harvesting, and although early adopters are free to provide the Redmond company with input on the release on their own, Microsoft will also automatically gather information from SQL Server 2012 codenamed Denali CTP3 installations via features such as the Customer Experience Improvement Program and Error and Usage Reporting component, both enabled by default.
According to Microsoft, SQL Server 2012 codenamed Denali will enable customers to:
“•Deliver required uptime and data protection with AlwaysOn
•Gain breakthrough & predictable performance with Project Apollo
•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 Project Crescent
•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 Developer Tools code name “Juneau” for a unified dev experience across database, BI, and cloud functions.”
SQL Server 2012 Codenamed Denali CTP3 is available for download here.
