14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has made available for download resources designed to help customers, developers, partners, etc. get insight into the next major iteration of its data platform.
Microsoft Books Online for SQL Server Code-Named "Denali" CTP1 is now available for download from the Redmond company free of charge.
As the label implies the resource is offered in tandem with the first Community Technology Preview of SQL Server 2008 R2’s successor, currently codenamed Denali.
According to the software giant, the download contains the primary documentation for the next release of Microsoft SQL Server.
The resource weighs in at approximately 200 MB and covers a variety of topics from upgrading to sample databases related to SQL Server Code-Named "Denali" CTP1.
According to Microsoft “Books Online includes the following types of information:
•Setup and upgrade instructions.
•Information about new features and backward compatibility.
•Conceptual descriptions of the technologies and features in SQL Server.
•Procedural topics describing how to use the various features in SQL Server.
•Tutorials that guide you through common tasks.
•Reference documentation for the graphical tools, command prompt utilities, programming languages, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that are supported by SQL Server.
• Descriptions of the sample databases and applications that are available with SQL Server.”
Of course, early adopters can also download the actual CTP of SQL Server Code-Named "Denali," which is also available from Microsoft, and run it in a testing environment.
SQL Server Codenamed "Denali" CTP1 was released in November 2010 and continues to be available even at this point in time.
It certainly makes more sense to leverage the documentation associated with "Denali" in parallel with the actual testing of the first CTP for the next generation of SQL Server.
“SQL Server Management Studio and Books Online components -Installing SQL Server Management Studio and Books Online also installs Microsoft Help Viewer and the components needed to view and manage Help content for SQL Server “Denali”,” Microsoft stated.
Microsoft SQL Server code-named 'Denali' - Community Technology Preview 1 (CTP1) is available for download here.