14 DAY TRIAL // SQL Server 2008 is evolving toward the Service Pack 1 milestone. At the start of this week, Microsoft made available for download the Community Technology Preview of SQL server 2008 SP1, indicating that the first service pack for its data platform is designed to resolve the issues that have survived past the RTM stage. The software giant referred to the milestone as a scheduled servicing release, and promised that SP1 would integrate feedback received from customers that have deployed the data platform following its official RTM in August 2008.
"We take every update to SQL Server very seriously and we are especially pleased that in reviewing the changes being made with this service pack that we have reinforced our confidence in the quality of the initial release of SQL Server 2008. We know that some of you are accustomed to wait for the first service pack of any new software that enters the marketplace, and hopefully with this update you can get even more insight and confidence in our engineering and quality practices,” explained Mauricio Monico, program manager, SQL Server Sustained Engineering.
Microsoft is encouraging existing SQL Server 2008 RTM customers to download the SP1 CTP and to start testing in order to provide feedback. Monico promised that SP1 for SQL Server 2008 would respect Microsoft's strategy of delivering contained service packs. In this context, SQL Server 2008 SP1 will be focused first of all on providing essential updates only. What Sql Server 2008 RTM will be able to find in the first service pack is a Roll-up of Cumulative Update 1 to 3, along with Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) updates, but also resolves to the problems reported for the platform.
“While keeping product changes contained, we have made significant investments to ease deployment and management of Service Packs: slipstream - you are now able to integrate the base installation with service packs (or Hotfixes) and install in a single step; Service Pack Uninstall - you are now able to uninstall only the Service Pack (without removing the whole instance); Report Builder 2.0 Click Once capability,” Monico added.
SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 - CTP is available for download here.