Accelerated SQL Server 2008

The expert tuition and approach to rapid learning in Accelerated SQL Server 2008, one of the first SQL Server 2008 books available, will enable SQL Server and other database professionals to make the leap to the latest release of Microsoft’s flagship database management system quickly. Take full advantage of the new features of SQL Server 2008, know what tools are available, and quickly realize the power and ease of use that SQL Server 2008 has to offer.

• Lightning–quick introduction to SQL Server 2008
• Written by top experts in the field
• Provides a solid grounding in key features and technologies

What you’ll learn

• Manage SQL Server installations through the brand–new Declarative Management Framework.
• Protect yourself from downtime with high–availability features such as failover clustering.
• Speed your applications by taking advantage of new performance–enhancement features in SQL Server 2008.
• Find what you need using full–text search.
• Store, retrieve, and manage XML in the database.
• Derive competitive advantage from business intelligence tools such as Analysis Services and Reporting Services.

Who is this book for?

Database professionals who need to make the leap to SQL Server 2008, and who need to make that leap quickly. This audience primarily includes users of previous releases of SQL Server such as SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005. The audience also includes database professionals with experience on competing platforms who are moving laterally to SQL Server.

About the Authors

Rob Walters works with Microsoft as a data platform technology specialist covering the Northeast district. Rob’s extensive experience with Microsoft SQL Server started over 8 years ago when he worked as a consultant for Microsoft Consulting Services in Denver, Colorado. Shortly after the dot–com bubble burst, Rob returned to Microsoft’s headquarters and worked as a program manager in the SQL Server product unit. There he owned various features within SQL Server including SQL Server Agent, various management features, and the security for the database engine. Rob is lead author on Accelerated SQL Server 2008 and has coauthored other texts including Pro SQL Server 2005. Mr. Walters holds a bachelors of science in electrical engineering from Michigan State University and a masters degree in business administration from Seattle University.

Michael Coles has over a decade’s experience designing and administering SQL Server databases. A prolific writer of articles on all aspects of SQL Server, particularly on the expert use of T–SQL, he holds MCDBA and MCP certifications. He received a bachelor’s of science (magna cum laude) in information technology from American Intercontinental University. A member of the United States Army Reserve, he was activated for two years following 9/11.

A prolific writer on cutting-edge technologies, Fabio Claudio Ferracchiati has contributed to over a dozen books on .NET, C#, Visual Basic, and ASP.NET. He is a .NET MCSD and lives in Milan, Italy.

Robert Rae is a senior technology specialist at Microsoft and focuses most of his time on helping companies build solutions with Microsoft’s Data Platform. Robert has fourteen years of experience designing, building, and deploying enterprise solutions.

Donald Farmer has worked in the Microsoft Business Intelligence team for 7 years. He has worked on both the Analysis Services and Integration Services product teams. Donald is now a Principal Program Manager for SQL Server Analysis Services, working to build the new generation of analytic technology, including predictive analysis, within the Microsoft business intelligence offering. Donald is a popular speaker at international events for both business and technical audiences, with a wide range of interests including data integration, information quality, meta data intelligence, master data management and predictive analytics. He is the author of a number of books and articles. Prior to joining Microsoft, Donald worked not only in business intelligence but in fields as varied as medieval archaeology and fish–farming.