SQL Server v.Next (Denali) : Launch point for BI resources

Microsoft's new data platform vision for BI is called BISM – Business Intelligence Semantic Model.  While I focus primarily on manageability, availability and database engine features, I'd like to keep tabs on who can help you out with their input on the other aspects I rarely touch – Analysis Services (SSAS), Integration Services (SSIS), and Reporting Services (SSRS).  Since I'm not covering these areas in my "What's New in Denali" presentations, I thought it would only be fair to provide a decent launch point So here are some blogs, individual posts and other resources with great information – if you have any other resources, please let me know!  Here is what I have come up with so far, in no particular order:

Jen Stirrup has some thoughts on BISM that are definitely worth a read:

http://www.jenstirrup.com/search/label/denali

Chris Webb also talks about BISM and its unification with SSAS:

http://cwebbbi.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/good-news-on-the-future-of-analysis-services/

The AS & PowerPivot team blog also has some information about BISM and SSAS:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerpivot/archive/2011/05/16/analysis-services-vision-amp-roadmap-update.aspx

Rafael Salas talks about a lot of SSIS topics as they relate to Denali:

http://www.rafael-salas.com/search/label/Denali

Robert Bruckner of the Reporting Services team answers many questions about Project "Crescent":

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlrsteamblog/archive/2010/11/09/a-glimpse-at-project-crescent.aspx

Chris Webb lists some great talking points about SSAS, with some excellent comments as well:

http://cwebbbi.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/pass-summit-day-2/
http://cwebbbi.wordpress.com/2010/11/14/pass-summit-day-2-the-aftermath
/

TechNet Wiki has some great stuff on SSIS enhancements in Denali on the new SSIS Catalog ("SSISDB") and usability enhancements:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-server-denali-ctp1-integration-services-ssis-catalog-overview.aspx
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-server-denali-ctp1-integration-services-ssis-usability-
enhancements.aspx

Jacob Sebastien has created a "What's New in Denali" resource page that has plenty of BI-related information:

http://beyondrelational.com/whatisnew/sqlserver/denali/

Watching the Denali tag on this site could be useful, even though most of the posts so far do not relate to BI:

http://sqlblog.com/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=denali&o=DateDescending

While during CTP periods, Books Online is rarely in sync with the actual build that is out there, it can still contain quite a bit of information.  Here is the starting point for "What's New" in Denali:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500435%28v=SQL.110%29.aspx

And you can download the latest "offline" version of Books Online here:

 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=a94fd771-9e65-4afa-9c5f-03344c48133f

The official SQL Server "Denali" site – more marketing than tech, but still useful:

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/product-info/future-editions.aspx

And here is MSDN's Denali Resource Center:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/denali_resource_center.aspx

If you're looking for help, the SQL Server community is a vast and generous resource. Post your question under the appropriate twitter hashtags:

#SQLHelp
#SQLDenali
#SQLServer
#SSAS
#SSIS
#SSRS

And don't forget the TechNet forums:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/sqlserverprerelease

Finally, if you'd like to provide feedback, submit suggestions, or file bugs, please use Connect (you'll need a LiveID):

http://web.archive.org/web/*/https://connect.microsoft.com/sql

 

Aaron Bertrand

I am a passionate technologist with industry experience dating back to Classic ASP and SQL Server 6.5. I am a long-time Microsoft MVP, write at SQLPerformance and MSSQLTips, and have had the honor of speaking at more conferences than I can remember. In non-tech life, I am a father of two, a huge hockey and football fan, and my pronouns are he/him. If I've helped you out, consider thanking me with a coffee. :-)

3 Responses

  1. AaronBertrand says:

    Stefan Bauer (http://twitter.com/stefbauer, http://stef-bauer.com/) recently presented a "What's new in Denali: SSIS" webcast available for viewing here:
    https://www323.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/view?id=46N2PZ

  2. Arthur says:

    I think BISM should get its own, dedicated web site.

  3. Rafael Salas says:

    Nice write-up.
    Thanks for including my blog 🙂