SQL Server CTP Gets Spatial Data Types

The third community technical preview (CTP) of the forthcoming SQL Server 2008 supports backup compression and adds a resource governor that lets administrators control how computer resources, such as memory, are allocated to database applications. In addition, the CTP gives database developers a first look at the product’s new geospatial data types, which will simplify development of mapping applications. Although the CTP comes later than expected, Microsoft has not announced plans to change the product’s ship schedule, which calls for a second quarter 2008 release.

New Resource Governor, Compression

SQL Server 2008 will be the first major overhaul of Microsoft’s database management and business intelligence (BI) platform since SQL Server 2005, which shipped in Nov. 2005.

The third SQL Server 2008 CTP, released in Nov. 2007, introduces several new features for database developers and database administrators. Important updates include the following:

Resource governor. Administrators will be able to limit the computer resources consumed by SQL Server workloads, such as application queries or stored procedures. For example, a SQL Server 2008 administrator could specify the fraction of a server’s CPU and memory available to a particular application accessing the database, which could help prioritize workloads and prevent bottlenecks.