Microsoft has released SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack RC0 June 2008, a collection of stand-alone install packages which bring additional value to SQL Server 2008. Feature Pack contains the following:
- Redistributable components for SQL Server 2008
- Add-on providers for SQL Server 2008
- Backward compatibility components for SQL Server 2008
The packages have separate installers for X86, X64, and IA64 platforms. According to Microsoft, each package is intended for one of the following audiences:
Customer: An individual may want to install this for additional licensed functionality such as interoperability.
Partner: An ISV may want to ship this as a redistributable component as part of their application.
Developer: A programmer may want to install this to support application development.
The following packages are available:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services 10.0 OLE DB Provider
The Analysis Services 10.0 OLE DB Provider is a COM component that software developers can use to create client-side applications that browse metadata and query data stored in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services. This provider implements both the OLE DB specification and the specification’s extensions for online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, X64 Package, IA64 Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Backward Compatibility Components
The SQL Server Backward Compatibility package includes the latest versions of Data Transformation Services 2000 runtime (DTS), SQL Distributed Management Objects (SQL-DMO), Decision Support Objects (DSO), and SQL Virtual Device Interface (SQLVDI). These versions have been updated for compatibility with both SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 and include all fixes shipped through SQL Server 2000 SP4 and SQL Server 2005 SP2.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, X64 Package, IA64 Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Command Line Utilities
The SQLCMD utility allows users to connect, send Transact-SQL batches, and output rowset information from SQL Server 7.0, SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, and SQL Server 2008 instances. The bcp utility bulk copies data between an instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and a data file in a user-specified format. The bcp utility can be used to import large numbers of new rows into SQL Server tables or to export data out of tables into data files.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, X64 Package, IA64 Package
SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1
SQL Server Compact is a free, easy-to-use embedded database engine that lets developers build robust Windows Desktop and mobile applications that run on all Windows platforms including Windows XP, Vista, Pocket PC, and Smartphone. Run the Microsoft Windows installer file (MSI) to install the product. The single setup program will install the provider and tools on x86 and x64 computers. The package includes product updates in the form of an integrated Service Pack 1. Read the installation guide and Readme for more information.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Download: web site
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Data Mining Add-ins for Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Data Mining Add-ins for Microsoft Office 2007 enables you to take advantage of SQL Server 2008 predictive analytics in Office Excel 2007 and Office Visio 2007. The download includes the following components:
- Table Analysis Tools for Excel: This add-in provides easy-to-use tools that leverage SQL Server 2008 data mining features to perform powerful analytics on your spreadsheet data. Two new tools have been added for this release: Prediction Calculator and Shopping Basket Analysis.
- Data Mining Client for Excel: This add-in enables you to go through the full data mining model development lifecycle within Excel 2007 using your spreadsheet data or external data accessible through your SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services instance. This release adds support for new SQL Server 2008 data mining features including holdout and cross-validation, a new Document Model wizard, and improvements to existing wizards.
- Data Mining Templates for Visio: This add-in enables you to render and share your mining models as annotatable Visio 2007 drawings.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, Readme
Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0
Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 is the latest version of the native XML processing stack. MSXML 6.0 provides standards-conformant implementations of XML 1.0, XML Schema (XSD) 1.0, XPath 1.0, and XSLT 1.0. In addition, it offers 64-bit support, increased security for working with untrusted XML data, and improved reliability over previous versions of MSXML.
Audience(s): Partner, Developer
Download: web site
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Objects
The SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) is a .NET Framework object model that enables software developers to create client-side applications to manage and administer SQL Server objects and services. This object model will work with SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, X64 Package, IA64 Package
Microsoft OLEDB Provider for DB2
The Microsoft OLE DB Provider for DB2 Version 2.0 is a COM component for integrating vital data stored in IBM DB2 databases with new solutions based on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition and Developer Edition. SQL Server developers and administrators can use the provider with Integration Services, Analysis Services, Replication, Reporting Services, and Distributed Query Processor. Run the self-extracting download package to create an installation folder. The single setup program will install the Version 2.0 provider and tools on x86, x64, and IA64 computers. Read the installation guide and Readme for more information.
Audience(s): Customer, Developer
Download: Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Native Client
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Native Client (SQL Native Client) is a single dynamic-link library (DLL) containing both the SQL OLE DB provider and SQL ODBC driver. It contains run-time support for applications using native-code APIs (ODBC, OLE DB and ADO) to connect to Microsoft SQL Server 2000, 2005, or 2008. SQL Native Client should be used to create new applications or enhance existing applications that need to take advantage of new SQL Server 2008 features. This redistributable installer for SQL Native Client installs the client components needed during run time to take advantage of new SQL Server 2008 features, and optionally installs the header files needed to develop an application that uses the SQL Native Client API.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, X64 Package, IA64 Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Policies
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Policies are examples of how you can take advantage of Policy Based Management. These policies will help you follow some of the SQL Server best practices and avoid common pitfalls. For more information, please see Administering Servers by Using Policy Based Management in SQL Server 2008 Books Online.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Download: Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0 provides an intuitive report authoring environment for business and power users. Report Builder 2.0 supports the full capabilities of the Report Definition Language (RDL) including tablix, new data visualizations, and richly formatted text features of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services. The download provides a stand-alone installer for Report Builder 2.0.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Download: Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint Technologies
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Add-in for SharePoint Technologies allows you to take advantage of SQL Server 2008 report processing and management capabilities in SharePoint integrated mode. This version also includes data-driven subscriptions. The download provides a Report Viewer web part, web application pages, and support for using standard Windows SharePoint Services or Microsoft Office SharePoint Services.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Download: web site
Microsoft SQL Server System CLR Types
The SQL Server System CLR Types package contains the components implementing the new geometry, geography, and hierarchyid types in SQL Server 2008. This component can be installed separately from the server to allow client applications to use these types outside of the server.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Downloads: X86 Package, X64 Package, IA64 Package
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor analyzes instances of SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 in preparation for upgrading to SQL Server 2008. Upgrade Advisor identifies feature and configuration changes that might affect your upgrade, and it provides links to documentation that describes each identified issue and how to resolve it.
Audience(s): Customer, Partner, Developer
Download: Package
The supported operating systems are: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP Service Pack 2. Additional information can be found on CTP Connect Site.