A little over a month ago, I posted some thoughts on a few of the new features in SSMS that I found (not) useful (see this post). In addition to learning that the server...

What are you waiting for?  Go get it! http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3BF4C5CA-B905-4EBC-8901-1D4C1D1DA884 Why are you still reading this? 

[Updates below in BOLD.]On loading SSMS for the first time, I noticed a few things.  First of all, the row(s) affected message is now prefixed with information on the instance and login relevant to...

Microsoft has released a new cumulative update (build 3200) for SQL Server 2005. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/941450 Adam has pointed out that the wording in the article is incorrect; it calls these post-SP3 updates, which is obviously...

After attending a few sessions at PASS, based on much newer builds of SQL Server 2008, I have some additional information to complement what I have published in my slides (since I am not...

Last month I prepared a webinar on the new features in Katmai for the Charlotte SQL Server User Group.  Based on that I have agreed to present similar materials (in person!) for a couple...

A new CU (Build 3186) has been issued by Microsoft in KB #939537, though unlike previous updates, this one is not readily available for public consumption.  You must fill out a form to obtain...

Updated: 2007-07-02 Continuing with a great tradition, I present again an updated list of SQL Server builds and hotfixes that have been released since the last time I posted a similar list (beginning of May). ...

For years I have been an advocate of making any and all hotfix information available to the public.  I used to stumble upon new builds in the KB by accident, and so I took it...

Change Data Capture (CDC) is something DBAs around me have been screaming about for ages.  For auditing and other reasons, we have needed to rely on 3rd party tools from companies like Lumigent, whose motto...

I've long been anticipating the Declarative Management Framework (DMF, not to be confused with dynamic management functions!) in Katmai.  We were given an early peek at the product in March, but it was essentially...

There is a public CTP coming out this morning.  It was supposed to be published on Connect at 8:30 AM ET, but maybe they meant a different time zone?  Anyway, an interesting "by the way"...

Sorry, this table looks much better in preview mode than publish mode <shrug>.  KB Title Build # KB #932557 FIX: A script task or a script component may not run correctly when you run...

James Howey of Microsoft gave us a very thorough explanation on the differences between a GDR and a QFE, what happened in SP2, and how to decide which build you should be aiming for.  I'm going...

4/6 Here is some more info from Steve Kass.  He paraphrased Microsoft's internal response to the confusion about who should install 3054 and who should install 3159. <snip>3054 includes the new fix along with...

I'm still waiting for the latest GDR / QFE that is going to clean up (no pun intended) all the maintenance plan cleanup issues that were borne out of SP2 and the followup fixes....

So I have official word (and permission to broadcast) that there is one minor bug left in maintenance plans, in the wake of last week's difficulties in properly addressing SP2 and the fixes that...

Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't bet that 3050 would be the last we'd hear about SP2.  It's like alphabet soup, I think 3152 (found at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933097/ – Thanks Chris!) could unofficially be called SP2c...

Since I probably won't be the "first post!" winner, I'll go over the highlights of what you're getting (some of which are not mentioned in the What's New document). Before I do that I'll...