FREE e-book from Microsoft: Introducint Microsoft SQL Server 2008

You will need to sign in with your Passport/Live/Hotmail account
https://profile.microsoft.com/RegSysProfileCenter/wizard.aspx?wizid=2e29311d-516a-4817-bd65-b43e105cb666&lcid=1033

To save the book, press F8 for Toolbar and click the Save button.
Or go to the browser [File] menu and choose [Save As...]

SQL Server 2008 SP1 Released

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 Download

We remain committed to our plans to keep service packs contained, focusing on essential updates only, primarily a Roll-up of Cumulative Update 1 to 3, Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) updates, as well as fixes to issues reported through the SQL Server community. 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

For more information about SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1, please review the Release Notes.

System Requirements
* Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista
* 32-bit systems (x86)

o PC with Intel or compatible Pentium III 600 MHz or higher processor (1 GHz or faster recommended)

* 64-bit systems (x64, ia64)

o 1GHz or faster processor

* Minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 GB or more recommended)

* 675 MB of available hard disk space

SQL Server Certification Statistics

Saw this interesting statistics today (source: Greg Low) and wow!

I want to emphasize that I am also a believer in real world experiences over certification though, for myself, and for any future persons I may hire

SQL Server related stats from Microsoft:

MCDBA SQL 2000 152086


MCTS
SQL 2005 41665
SQL 2005 BI 2600

SQL 2008 Dev 336
SQL 2008 BI 134

MCITP
SQL 2005 DBA 6695
SQL 2005 Dev 2925
SQL 2005 BI 1088

SQL 2008 DBA 92
SQL 2008 BI 50

MCM
SQL 2005 18
SQL 2008 2

SQL Server 2008 Books Online (August 2008) Released

Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Books Online (August 2008)
The file is 141MB (SQLServer2008_BOL_August2008_ENU.msi)

I still prefers GOOGLE to find syntax help or the Books Online ONLINE at Microsoft ;-p

Free eBook - Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008

I found it via SQLBlog.com, downloaded it and finished reading it.
To me (from the SQL Server 2005 DBA viewpoint), it was a well written overview of the SQL Server 2008 new features (and new features only). Because of our usage of SQL 2008 at work, I have greater appreciation and understanding of the new features as well.

Tips to download the PDF:

You can press F8 to display the toolbar, and "Save As"
or press Ctrl-Shift-S to save the PDF locally


Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008

by Peter DeBetta, Greg Low, and Mark Whitehorn
ISBN: 9780735625587


Learn about major new features in SQL Server 2008 including security, administration, and performance.


Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008:

Chapter 1: Security and Administration

Chapter 2: Performance

Chapter 3: Type System

Chapter 4: Programmability

Chapter 5: Storage

Chapter 6: Enhancements for High Availability

Chapter 7: Business Intelligence Enhancements