News (45)
Microsoft relaxes virtualisation rules
Microsoft has eased up its server licensing rules so that organisations can make more efficient use of servers in virtualised environments. Read more »
Microsoft releases SQL Server 2008
Microsoft said on Wednesday in the US that it had finished work on SQL Server 2008, the latest version of its database software. Read more »
Microsoft fixes DNS flaw but warns of Word attacks
Microsoft is warning that a Word flaw is being used for targeted attacks, and has also issued four 'important' patches, including one for a potentially serious DNS flaw in the latest Patch Tuesday bulletin. Read more »
Microsoft readies revamped database, security software
Microsoft says it's set to release near-final versions of its key database server and other business-oriented software. Read more »
Oz users give new Microsoft server suite thumbs-up
Early adopters of Microsoft's new suite of enterprise products have given the vendor an initial thumbs-up. Read more »
Partners frustrated by Microsoft launch delays
Insiders broadly welcome Microsoft's virtualisation push but voice some frustration at the fact some products are later than expected. Read more »
Microsoft to give students free developer tools
Microsoft wants more students using its software tools and it thinks it has hit on the right business model -- it's going to give away its software. Read more »
SQL Server 2008 delayed until third quarter
Microsoft said on Friday that it has pushed back the delivery date of its SQL Server database until the third quarter of this year. Read more »
Windows Server 2008 RC1 available for download
Microsoft has kicked off what it claims will be the "largest enterprise launch" in the company's history by releasing Windows Server 2008 RC1. Read more »
Microsoft targets Oracle licensing to win customers
With the upcoming launch of SQL Server 2008, Microsoft will focus its massive resources on the issue of licensing, in an attempt to win customers for Oracle and IBM. Read more »
Features (48)
Capturing SQL Server 2005 database file size information
It's very important to capture trends of the sizes of your SQL Server 2005 database because it allows you to plan for future space needs, notice types of problems, and plan for time periods of heavy volume. I'll show you the simple method that I use to capture this information. Read more »
Iterating through tables and databases in SQL Server
We look at two very useful stored procedures that live in the master database but are not mentioned in SQL Server Books Online. These system procedures come in very handy for jobs such as determining the space used, the number of rows, the indexes on the user tables, and so on. Read more »
Using NOLOCK and READPAST table hints in SQL Server
Table locking hints provide developers much tighter control of their transactions. Look at the benefits and disadvantages of using the NOLOCK and READPAST table hints in SQL Server. Read more »
Defining cascading referential integrity constraints in SQL Server
By using cascading referential integrity constraints, you can define the actions that SQL Server 2005 takes when a user tries to delete or update a key to which existing foreign keys point. Read more »
Execute SQL statements in Integration Services
This tutorial walks you through the process of adding SQL statements to your SSIS packages and bundling them into logical units of work if necessary. Read more »
How do I ... reject alpha characters in a SQL Server character column?
Enforcing your data's integrity is probably the single most important issue you face when designing a database. Validating user input is one way of keeping bad data from making its way into your analyses and reports. Read more »
Finding dependencies in SQL Server 2005
This tutorial will show how you can write a procedure that will look up all of the objects that are dependent upon other objects. Read more »
Generate synchronisation scripts in SQL Server with TableDiff
DBAs often have to find the differences between lookup tables in different database environments. SQL Server comes with a tool called TableDiff that allows you to easily compare the data in tables. Read more »
Simplify SQL Server 2005 queries with a Dates table
Learn what a Dates table is and how to create one, and then try it out for yourself. Read more »
Build directory structures using SQL Server 2005
If you store directory structures in the database, you are aware of what it takes to retrieve the data. Writing queries to pull this information is sometimes difficult to achieve and inefficient. You can use the recursion and XML features in SQL Server 2005 to build a file location on the fly. Read more »
Blog (4)
Microsoft says "open sesame"
-- While you may have been out last night watching the latest Rambo adventure with Sly Stallone making war for war's sake, Microsoft was busy declaring a truce with the open source community. Read more »
2008 -- where 2006 exploits still rule
-- So the question is: who is running their SQL servers on systems unpatched since 2006 and/or not installing service packs?
The answer is clearly enough people to warrant continued exploitation. Read more »
Database pros get tools in the know
-- Microsoft has just released the eagerly anticipated Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals (TEDB) which allows developers to build database applications in a team environment. Read more »
Service Pack or Market Attack?
-- I will give it to Microsoft. When they want to capture a particular market, they go hard or not at all. And with SQL Server 2005, they have their sights set firmly on the Business Intelligence market. And their strategy makes sense—they are moving to become the "one stop shop" for database servers, data management tools, reporting and analysis, eliminating the need to spend more money on third-party tools. Read more »
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Share a keyboard and mouse with SynergyEven in the era of virtualization, many IT pros (including myself) have a small army of computers sitting on, under, and around their desks. Read more »
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Android devs less than gruntledYet more discouraging news on the Android front. Having hacked off its developer community by releasing updated SDKs to just a small group of chosen devs, Google has now given the brush-off to a petition that called for more to be given to the wider community. Read more »
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As a developer there will be a time when you ship a bug -- be it a stub that you left in, or a flaming, crashtastic segfault. The next time this happens and your bosses come baying for blood, point them in the direction of VMware, who this week gave the developer world a great example of how to ship a showstopper bug. Read more »
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Ivar Jacobson, Bill Gates and the weekly poultry -- Club Builder
2008/08/20 16:36:22
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Wii remote creates $50 digital whiteboard: IDF
2008/08/20 10:42:43
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2008/08/18 13:05:17
What's on?
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Club Builder: Captain Obvious vs the Crackpots
In the case of the bleeding obvious, IBM says open source needs good designers; a claim is made that China can activate your phone to snoop on you; and we take a look at the Defcon conference.

