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SQL Server Magazine UPDATE, April 12, 2007--Hotfixes vs. Service Packs: Blurring the Lines

SQL Server Magazine UPDATE, April 12, 2007--Hotfixes vs. Service Packs: Blurring the Lines

IN THIS ISSUE:
This week, Microsoft announced the Incremental Service Model for automatic notification of SQL Server hotfix Cumulative Updates. But surprisingly, this new service seems shrouded in mystery, and the announcement raises more questions than it answers.

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April 12, 2007

1. Perspectives

2. SQL Server Watch

  • TechX Interoperability Web S ite and UPDATE E mail N ewsletter
  • Product Watch: Teratrax

3. Hot Threads

  • Help PaulMcKibben solve a replication snapshot mystery.
  • Help timcronin decide whether to use a UNION clause in a complex stored procedure.
  • Help sugarBABY figure out a quirky sample of Service Broker code.
  • Help dog_dev figure out whether a data quirk is really a hack attempt.

4. Hot Articles

  • Q&A: Executing Queries on Remote Servers
  • SELECT TOP(X): Size Up Team Data
  • Puzzled by T-SQL: Simplified End-of-Period Calculations
  • In a Nutshell: Checking for Operation Completion

5. Events and Resources

  • Windows + UNIX/Linux = You Need TechX World!
  • Get Ready for the Windows Server Longhorn Roadshow!
  • Deploy Exchange Server 2007 Without a Hitch!

6. Featured White Paper

  • B lock Unwanted or Undesirable Email

7. Announcements

  • Introducing a Unique Security Resource
  • Grab Your Share of the Spotlight!

8. Web Community

  • http://www.sqlmag.com

SPONSOR: Microsoft

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Learn how you can use Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) v2 to extend the native SQL Server feature set to provide continuous data protection with byte-level replication and integrity checking. From business case to recovery scenarios, this whitepaper demonstrates how DPM v2 will integrate with your SQL Server infrastructure. Download your version of the white paper now.


1.

PERSPECTIVES

 

Hotfixes vs. Service Packs: Blurring the Lines
by Brian Moran, [email protected]

Last week, my press contacts at Microsoft told me about the company’s new Incremental Servicing Model for SQL Server, a new process for customers to receive scheduled SQL Server hotfix updates that is scheduled to launch April 16. The name and the brief description sure sounded intriguing. But, try as I might, I haven’t been able to get much in the way of real information about what this new initiative really means to customers.
Read the full article.


SPONSOR: AppDev

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Get started with SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence with 3 FREE hours of award-winning AppDev learning for Analysis Services. Includes step-by-step instruction, hands-on labs, sample code, printable courseware (a $115 value).


2.

SQL SERVER WATCH

 

TechX Interoperability Web Site and UPDATE Email Newsletter
Do you work in a mixed environment? Visit TechX World ( http://techxworld.com ) for information about Windows interoperability. The TechX World community gives you access to interoperability articles that aren't available anywhere else; news, tips, and tricks from interop experts and other users; and forums and blog posts by other community members.

Join the TechX World community and sign up for the TechX Interoperability UPDATE email newsletter.

PRODUCT WATCH
by Blake Eno, [email protected]

Ensure Optimum SQL Server Performance

Teratrax announced Teratrax Performance Monitor 4.0, a real-time performance monitoring and alerting solution for all editions of SQL Server 2005 and 2000. Teratrax Performance Monitor 4.0 features SQL Server uptime monitoring and email alerting, real-time deadlock detection, real-time and historical cache-hit-ratio charting, and email alerting for slow SQL events and blocks with customizable thresholds. The software can also notify you of failed and slow jobs and provides an auditing trail for failed login attempts. You can download a free, 7-day trial of Teratrax Performance Monitor 4.0 at Teratrax's Web site. The software costs $395 per server.

http://www.teratrax.com


3.

HOT THREADS

 

Join the discussions and share your expertise with your peers on our forums! New this week:

Replication: Transactional Replication Snapshots

T-SQL: Complex Stored Procedure

SQL Server 2005 Development: Service Broker Sample Code

SQL Server 2005 Security: How to Detect Hack Attempt?


4.

HOT ARTICLES

 

Q&A: Executing Queries on Remote Servers
by Microsoft’s SQL Server Development Team

Q. I have two servers, and I want to call a stored procedure with the server name as the parameter and have the stored procedure's T-SQL query run against the appropriate server, as in the following code:

CREATE PROCEDURE (@prmServer varchar(500)) AS
SELECT * FROM ##.pubs.dbo.Titles
GO 

How do I execute the procedure's T-SQL query on the correct server by using the server parameter (the ## part of the object name) and without converting the T-SQL code to a string or using an EXECUTE statement? Does SQL Server provide an object for server name, such as ObjectReference in the statement

SELECT * FROM ObjectReference(@prmServer) 
.pubs.dbo.Titles 

that I can use in place of the server's name? Or can I map @prmServer to an alias such as TempServer, as in

SELECT * FROM TempServer.pubs.dbo.Titles 

then run my T-SQL code?

Read the answer to this question today.

SELECT TOP(X): Size Up Team Data
Before you buy Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals, get more information about it with these 5 resources, including blogs, a forum, and a trial version for downloading. Read this article today and post your comments.

PUZZLED BY T-SQL: Simplified End-of-Period Calculations
In this week’s blog, Itzik Ben-Gan shares a simplified way to perform an end-of-period calculation. This useful solution was sent to Itzik by reader Peter Larsson. Check out the new solution and post your input today.

IN A NUTSHELL: Checking for Operation Completion
Check out this useful tip for using a DMV to get the running percentage progress of a backup. Read the blog and send Kevin your comments and contributions.


5.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

 

Windows + UNIX/Linux = You Need TechX World!
If you work in an environment that includes both Windows and UNIX or Linux, TechX World is the place to go for practical strategies and resources to add to your toolkit. This one-day technical training event will teach you how to make the most of open-source tools on Windows and how to manage and sync multiple directories. Register today!

Get Ready for the Windows Server Longhorn Roadshow!
Seize control of your Windows infrastructure with Microsoft's biggest server release since Windows 2003. Get a live, under-the-hood look at Longhorn virtualization, deployment, Web services, and breakthroughs in core reliability. This one-day event is filled with demonstrations and in-depth discussions designed for IT pros who want a deep understanding of Windows Server Longhorn. Register now.

Deploy Exchange Server 2007 Without a Hitch!
This one-day technical training event teaches you how to preempt pitfalls and avoid corrupting your email infrastructure. Learn how to effectively install, manage, and secure Exchange Server 2007 in a 64-bit environment. You'll also get a peek into the integration of Outlook, SharePoint Server 2007, and Exchange Server 2007. Register today!

See the complete Windows IT Pro Network guide to Web and live events.


6.

FEATURED WHITE PAPER

 

Do you want to block unwanted or undesirable email? Download this free white paper to learn how to manage the content of messages traversing your network.


**** HOT SPOT: Quest Software ****

Have a SQL Backup and Recovery Question? Ask SQL Stan!
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7.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Introducing a Unique Security Resource
Security Pro VIP is an online information center that delivers new articles every week on topics such as perimeter security, authentication, and system patches. Subscribers also receive tips, cautionary advice, direct access to our editors, and a host of other benefits! Order now at an exclusive charter rate and save up to $50!

Grab Your Share of the Spotlight!
Nominate yourself or a peer to become IT Pro of the Month. This is your chance to get the recognition you deserve! Winners will receive over $600 in IT resources and be featured in Windows IT Pro. It's easy to enter--we're accepting June nominations now, but only for a limited time! Submit your nomination today.


8.

WEB COMMUNITY

 

  • Hot Threads
  • Reader-to-Reader
  • New Instant Poll
  • Blogs

 

Contact Us

 

SQL Server Magazine UPDATE is brought to you by SQL Server Magazine, the only magazine devoted to helping developers and DBAs master new and emerging SQL Server technologies and issues. Subscribe today!

SQL Server Magazine is a division of Penton Media, Inc.
221 East 29th Street, Loveland, CO 80538
Attention: Customer Service Department

Copyright 2007, Penton Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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