Microsoft releases SQL Server 2008 R2

SQL Server 2008 can now scale across 256 processors

Microsoft has announced the release to manufacturing of SQL Server 2008 R2, the latest version of its relational database system, promising greater scalability, better integration with other platforms, and new features to help make business intelligence (BI) and reporting available to more users in an organisation.

SQL Server 2008 R2 will be available to download for TechNet and MSDN subscribers from 3 May, Microsoft said, with worldwide availability coming on 13 May.

Key features in the new release include PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint, which provides greater access to BI information through these familiar Office tools, and greater scalability through SQL Server 2008 R2 Datacenter edition, which now enables databases on servers with up to 256 logical processors.

The PowerPivot feature provides what Microsoft refers to as managed self-service for BI, enabling IT professionals to make data available while still being able to monitor and manage user-generated BI solutions.

"Bringing BI to everyone in an organisation necessitates reaching users in the tools that they already know and use every day," said Tom Casey, general manager for BI at Microsoft.

Other developments focus on making IT professionals more productive, according to Casey, including support for Master Data Management solutions.

"With the introduction of application and multi-server management, our customers can now centrally manage all instances and applications running on any number of servers, in a very consistent manner," he said.

For mission-critical workloads, SQL Server 2008 R2 provides live migration support and scaling under Hyper-V, and can take advantage of up to 256 processors in a single system.

Microsoft also said that customers will be able to extend capabilities to the cloud through SQL Azure, which provides a consistent programming model, common capabilities and tools to SQL Server.

"Customers are dealing with ever increasing volumes of data. They're looking for a comprehensive platform that spans the mobile platform to the desktop to the datacentre and the cloud," said Ted Kummert, senior vice president of business platforms at Microsoft.