Microsoft unveils new version of its platform management databases, SQL Server 2008 R2, which focuses on Business Intelligence and cloud computing.
While Oracle were revealing their plans surrounding their MySQL database so as to provide an alternative to Microsoft in the field of database management, Microsoft has now announced a new version of its own solution: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2.
Microsoft are also looking to work up with great interest around their product with more then 85 events planned around the world in addition to the launch of a dedicated site, after having witnessed more than 300000 downloads of their pre-release versions.
Among the new features of SQL Server 2008 R2, the "notion of Business Intelligence and mastered free service" has been brought to the fore through the new tool PowerPivot, allowing for data to be merged together from different sources so that information can be manipulated from a range of other Microsoft sources like Excel 2010 and SharePoint Server 2010.
Designed for cloud computing and virtualisation
The new version is also better adapted to increased loads in data centres, with support for systems running up to 256 logical processors and management of virtual data centres running under Hyper-V, in addition to handling dynamic migration (Live Migration).
The SQL Server 2008 R2 Master Data Services components allow for the management of coherent data streams made between varied systems, while SQL Server 2008 StreamInsight assures large scale event stream management.
The SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse appliance to soon be made available will also allow for data management of "many hundreds of terabytes". This brings us to the third big change to this new version: its integration of data centres into the cloud, made available through Microsoft SQL Azure.
Once again, the PowerPivot technology will be at the heart of data analysis and its use, while different pieces offered by Microsoft will come together to form a single coherent solution.
