SQL Server Codenamed "Denali" CTP1 Released

After confirming ‘the Great One’ back in February 2010, even ahead of the finalization of SQL Server 2008 R2, Microsoft has made available for download the first taste of the next generation of its data platform.

The first Community Technology Preview of SQL Server Codenamed "Denali" went live on the Microsoft Download Center earlier this week, as Ted Kummert revealed details of the next release of SQL Server at the opening keynote of PASS Summit 2010.

According to Quentin Clark, General Manager of the Database Systems Group, which shared additional info on the upcoming data platform version from Microsoft with PASS attendees code-named “Denali” is focused on enabling businesses to be more agile.

“Customers will be able to efficiently deliver mission-critical solutions through a highly scalable and available platform.

“Industry-leading tools will help developers quickly build innovative applications while data integration and management tools help deliver credible data reliably to the right users and new user experiences expand the reach of BI to enable meaningful insights,” a member of the SQL Server team explained.

In addition to providing SQL Server code-named 'Denali' - Community Technology Preview 1 (CTP1) through the Download Center, the software giant also set up a site for the successor of SQL Server 2008 R2.

SQL Server code-named 'Denali' features a number of new additions, specific of the evolution from one major version of the Redmond company’s data platform to another.

'Denali' is already advertised as a highly available and scalable platform, with such new features as SQL Server AlwaysOn (maximixing uptime for mission critical apps) and the Column-Based Query Accelerator (enhancing query performance).

IT professionals and developers will also be able to leverage new additions to the platform, including security and supportability improvements, improved support and an unified developer experience, SQL Server Tools code-named “Juneau.”

And just as it was the case with its predecessor, Codenamed "Denali” will also be targeted at companies that want to boost their current Business Intelligence capabilities.

Code-named “Denali” includes “new capabilities that will be delivered to customers:

• Enhanced mission-critical platform: An enhanced highly available and scalable platform through the new SQL Server AlwaysOn for greater flexibility in achieving increased availability and data protection and new Column-Based Query Accelerator for huge performance gains in data warehousing.

• Developer and IT Productivity: A new unified development experience for data developers called SQL Server Developer Tools code-named “Juneau”, new beyond relational enhancements including FileTable for file storage within the SQL Server database, easier of use delivered via SQL Server AlwaysOn, data integration tools and features such as security & supportability.

• Pervasive Insight: Expand the reach of BI to business users via Project code-name “Crescent”, a highly interactive, web-based data exploration and visualization tool built on the breakthrough analytical performance of the VertiPaq technology.

Meanwhile, holistic data integration and management tools through enhanced Master Data Services and new Data Quality Services will help ensure organizations can deliver the right data to the right users at the right time,” a SQL team member revealed.

There is no general availability deadline put on Denali at this point in time. However, reports indicate that the successor of SQL Server 2008 R2 could be delivered in the third quarter of 2011, which would make it either SQL Server 2011 or SQL Server 2012.

Microsoft SQL Server code-named 'Denali' - Community Technology Preview 1 (CTP1) is available for download here.