By Chris Alliegro [bio]
Posted: Dec. 26, 2005                            Purchase a copy of this 24 page report

Below is an excerpt of a Research Report published by Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm focused exclusively on Microsoft strategy & technology. More samples of our content, as well as a list of upcoming articles and reports are also available.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary [Free]

Overview of the major improvements in SQL Server 2005 related to management, application development, scalability, performance, and availability

Introduction [Free]

Overview of SQL Server 2005's enhancements in the areas of management, application development, scalability, performance, and availability

Consolidated Tool Set Leads Management Changes

Manageability improvements in SQL Server 2005 could further solidify the product's position in the database mid-market

SQL Server Gets .NET, XML

SQL Server 2005 integrates the .NET Framework, which introduces a powerful programming model and environment for server-side database development

High-Availability Features Target Enterprises

New high-availability capabilities could help SQL Server 2005 gain traction in the enterprise market; however, one important high-availability feature, database mirroring, is not supported in the product's initial release

Improved Features for Large Databases

A new table partitioning feature, a new mechanism to reduce database blocking, and replication tweaks will improve the performance and scalability of large databases, such as data warehouses

Caveats and Considerations

Highlights some of the challenges customers and partners may face when working with, or upgrading to, the SQL Server 2005

Resources

Links to additional information about SQL Server 2005

Appendix: SQL Server 2005 Availability, Pricing, and Packaging

The SQL Server 2005 lineup includes four editions—Express, Workgroup, Standard, and Enterprise—a price increase, and a new licensing model