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SQL Server 2008 R2 ArrivesSQL Server 2008 R2 Arrives
If you use it, you'll appreciate R2's new features, but you should consider Microsoft's advertisements as science fiction.
2 Min Read
If you use it, you'll appreciate R2's new features, but you should consider Microsoft's advertisements as science fiction.One of the reasons for having a server is to run a central database with shared access, and the big news in that field is that newly announced availability of Microsoft's SQL Server 2008 R2.
But in the SMB arena there are two things about SQL Server to keep in mind:
SQL is pronounced Sequel, as in "Iron Man II."
It amounts to a programming language, as complex as any on the market. That means you can get it to do anything you want it do do-with some person-years of effort. If you are big enough to have programmers working for you, then it can be used to turn your central business database into an important tool.
But if you don't have a central business database suitable for parking on a server where users can get shared remote access to it, then R2 is yet another business product whose beguiling advertisements you should treat as science fiction. Adopting a software platform is a major move, on par with deciding whether to rent or lease your trucks. You should not do it because there's a shiny new model on the market.
But if you're familiar with Microsoft SQL Server, then you'll appreciate that R2's new features:
There's more integration with business tools like Excel.
It can be used to set up private clouds, and can machines with up to 256 processors. (Apparently they're planning ahead.)
There's tools for integrating with THE cloud.
The basic purpose for having SQL is database mining and business intelligence. If you're comfortable doing that with a spreadsheet or Microsoft Access, that does not mean you fell off the last melon cart. Those are powerful tools, too.
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