SQL Server Codename “Denali” CTP3 Resources

SQL Server codename “Denali” CTP3 has been released to the public after much anticipation. You may ask yourself, “What happened to CTP2?” The answer is simple. It was a private build for MVPs and some Microsoft partners. By private, I mean it was not released to the general public. The good news is that you did not miss much in CTP2. A lot of areas were incomplete or not working. But that is to be expected as it is a work in progress.

This blog post will serve as a means to gather resources such as links and blog posts regarding SQL Server “Denali” CTP3. Check back soon as I will be adding new resources. If you have a blog post about SQL Server Denali CTP3 please pingback or email me to add it to the list.

Downloads:

SQL Server DENALI CTP3 Demo VHD
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27253

A HyperV image of SQL Server Denali CTP3 in action, including fully configured services and integration with SharePoint 2010 and Office 2010
The following software is configured on the virtual machine:

• SQL Server “Denali” CTP3
• SharePoint 2010
• Office 2010

SQL Server codename “Denali” Community Technology Preview 3 CTP3
https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/pd/SQLDCTP3CTA/enus/default.aspx

SQL Server code name “Denali” Express Core Community Technology Preview 3 (CTP 3)
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26784

SQL Server code name ‘Denali’ Community Technology Preview 3 (CTP 3) Feature Pack
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26726

The SQL Server  code name “Denali” CTP 3 Feature Pack is a collection of stand-alone packages which provide additional value for Microsoft® SQL Server® code name ‘Denali’ CTP 3. It includes the latest versions of  tool and components an add-on providers.

Includes:

• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Master Data Service Add-in for Excel CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Semantic Language Statistics CTP 3
• SQL ServerReport Builder for SQL Servercode name “Denali” CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” PowerPivot for  Excel CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Reporting Services Add-in for  SharePoin Technologies
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Data-Tier Application Framework CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Transact-SQL Language Service CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Transact-SQL ScriptDom CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Transact-SQL Compiler Service CTP 3
• SQL ServerCompact 4.0
• SQL ServerCompact 4.0 Books On-line
• SQL ServerJDBC Driver 4.0 Community Technology 2 (CTP 2)
• Connector 1.1 for SAP BW for SQL Server code name “Denali” CTP 3
• System CLR Types for SQL Server code name “Denali” CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Remote Blob Store CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Books On-line CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Upgrade Advisor CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Native Client CTP 3
• OLEDB Provider for DB2 v4.0 for SQL Server code name “Denali” CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Command Line Utilities CTP 3
• SQL ServerService Broker External Activator for SQL Server code name “Denali” CTP 3
• Windows PowerShell Extensions for SQL Server code name “Denali” CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Shared Management Objects CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” ADOMD.NET CTP 3
• Analysis Services OLE DB Provider for SQL Servercode name “Denali” CTP 3
• SQL Servercode name “Denali” Analysis Management Objects CTP 3
• SQL ServerDriver for PHP 2.0
• SQL ServerMigration Assistant

1. Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access
2. Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for MySQL
3. Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for Oracle
4. Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for Sybase
5.  Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant 2008 for Sybase PowerBuilder Applications

• SQL ServerStreamInsight v1.2

Adventure Works sample databases for SQL Server codename Denali CTP3
http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/releases/view/55330

Denali CTP3 Adventure Works Sample Databases Readme
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-server-samples-readme.aspx

Includes:

• AdventureWorks2008R2 Data File
• AdventureWorksDWDenali Data File
• SSAS Multidimensional Model Projects Denali CTP3
• SSAS Tabular Model Projects Denali CTP3
• SSAS AMO2Tabular Denali CTP3

Don’t forget to read the sample databases readme file:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-server-samples-readme.aspx

Tutorials

Tutorials for SQL Server “Denali”
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231699(v=sql.110).aspx

Includes:

• Multidimensional Modeling (Adventure Works Tutorial)
• Tabular Modeling (Adventure Works Tutorial)
• Tutorial for Project Crescent

Blogs / Wikis:

Microsoft SQL Server Code-Named “Denali” CTP3 Release Notes
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3711.aspx

SQL Server Team: SQL Server Code Name “Denali” CTP3 and SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 are HERE!
http://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2011/07/11/sql-server-code-name-denali-ctp3-is-here.aspx

SSIS Team Blog: Matt Mason – What’s new in SQL Server Denali?
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mattm/archive/2011/07/12/ssis-what-s-new-in-sql-server-denali.aspx

SQL Server Reporting Services Team Blog: Thierry Dhers – SQL Server codename “Denali” CTP3, including Project “Crescent” is now publically available
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlrsteamblog/archive/2011/07/12/sql-server-codename-quot-denali-quot-ctp3-including-project-quot-crescent-quot-is-now-publically-available.aspx

What’s New in Master Data Services (MDS) in Denali CTP3
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3714.aspx

Marco Russo: Installing Analysis Services ssas #Denali CTP3 and PowerPivot Denali CTP3
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/marco_russo/archive/2011/07/13/installing-analysis-services-ssas-denali-ctp3-and-powerpivot-denali-ctp3.aspx

Brent Ozar: CTP3 is Here! Five Things to Know About the Next Version of SQL Server
http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2011/07/five-things-sql-server-denali-ctp3/

Jamie Thompson: SSIS enhancements in Denali CTP3
http://www2.sqlblog.com/blogs/jamie_thomson/archive/2011/07/12/ssis-enhancements-in-denali-ctp3.aspx

MSDN SQL Server (Pre-release) forum threads
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/sqlserverprerelease

SQL Server “Deanali” Books Online (BOL)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms130214(SQL.110).aspx

Technet Wiki: Project Crescent Overview
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/project-crescent-overview.aspx

Update Log:
7/26/2011 Added Denali CTP3 Adventure Works Sample Databases Readme link

9/25/2011 Added SQL Server DENALI CTP3 Demo VHD download link and description and Technet Wiki Project Crescent overview.

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Afterthoughts: SQL Saturday #48 Columbia, SC

More than 1,000 miles later and almost 20 hours behind the wheel, I can only express how much I enjoyed each and every moment at SQL  Saturday #48 hosted in West Columbia, S.C. Let me get started by saying that it was a succesfull and well planned event. It had good attendance rate and had a great speaker line-up.

I have to recognize my wife for doing most of the driving. She volunteered behind the wheel while I sat back and and helped out keeping the girls entertained and busy munching on some veggie sticks.

The Highlights
I can not possibly start without pointing out that I walked away with the most valuable treasure of all: friendships. I was blessed to meet Brian Kelley (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) and his family and be able to interact with their kids. Our two daughters Fae and Sofia had a great time together in the after party. It was very fulfilling to me to be able not just to meet a talented and well-respected guy such as Brian Kelley in a professional setting but also in a more personal way. I really hope this is the start of a long-lasting friendship.

I want to recognize Brian’s wife for manning the book  and prizes table while pregnant. Not many pregnant women would volunteer to be standing up and doing physical work for a whole Saturday. It really shows the type of committment Brian and his wife have to the SQL community.

More Networking
I also had the opportunity to meet and establish friendships with some amazing professionals, in particular funny guy Bobby Dimmick (Linkedin | Twitter). Some of the new connections and personal interactions for the firs time include:

• Brian Kelley (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – AgFirst Farm Credit Bank (AFFCB)
• Bobby Dimmick (Linkedin | Twitter) – VC3
• Mark Tabladillo (Blog | Twitter) – Solid Quality Mentors  
• Bob Langley (Linkedin) – Forsyth County BOC
• Chris Skorlinski (Blog | Linkedin) – Microsoft SQL Server Escalation Team
• Jessica Moss (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Iron Works Consulting
• Rafael Salas (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Quaero
• Geoff Hiten (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) -Intellinet
• Stuart Ainsworth (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Jack Henry & Associates
• Julie Smith (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Key2 Consulting (and her upcoming SQL professional mom)
• Andy Leonard (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Unysis
• Alex Tocitu (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Gwinnett County Clerk of Courts
• William Pearson (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Island Technologies, Inc
• Tim Radney (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Synovus Financial Corp

I also got to see some of my friends and tweeps such as:

• Andy Warren (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – SQLShare.com
• David Taylor (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Techsonic Industries, Inc
• Aaron Nelson (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – Intellinet
• Eric Humphrey (Blog | Linkedin | Twitter) – A/P Recovery, Inc

 I would like to give thanks to  the organizers and sponsors for such a great event. I also want to give a big thanks to the attendees to both my sessions, Get Cert! Get Cred! and Business Intelligence: Decaffeinated Please! I got great feedback and participation from them. I want to recognize some of my attendees for doing some constructive observations about my presentation style and visuals.  I value all comments that help me become a better speaker and presenter.

What I learned
In my third SQL Saturday I learned several things as an attendee and as a speaker.

First of all, SQL Saturday is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family and to plan a mini-vacation, especially if traveling to a city or area you have not visited before. Also, if you are fortunate like I was, you may end up getting to know other professionals and their families. Next SQL Saturday bring your family along, especially to our Tampa SQL Saturday to be scheduled between January and February, 2011. I would love to meet you and your families.

Second as a SQL Server and Business Intelligence professional you get no better chance to meet your rockstars and be able to have an opportunity to interact. You also meet great professionals in the area with which you establish not only professional connections but also friendships. Friends with which if you can go out to lunch with if you are in their hometown or get good recommendations where to stay or what to do. Also, they can serve as a lifeline.

Third, I learned that you have to balance your presentation between what I consider the two main presentation styles: those who base their presentation on the slides content and those who base their presentation on the slide visuals primarily. The reason you have to balance these two main styles is because of your audience. Some audience members expect for you to follow your slide deck and stick to the text and content on them as much as possible (slide followers). Other audience members don’t like it when you repeat what is on your slide and want to hear what you have to say (content cravers). In this SQL Saturday I had the opportunity to experiment with both these styles. In Get Cert! Get Cred! I played with Guy Kawasaki’s style, while in Business Intelligence: Decaffeinated Please! I was a little more conservative. I got great feedback on both presentations ranging from As Expected and Better than Expected ratings with an overall average of 4.5 out of 5 rating. If you attended any of my sessions, I want to say thank you once more and keep commenting on ways to improve as a speaker.

Fourth, as SQL PASS Chapter leader it is a great opportunity to learn from the organization and management perspective of a SQL Saturday event. I learned what works and got some great pointers for our upcoming SQLSaturday in Tampa, FL early 2011. Also, I was able to connect with potential speakers for our user group and SQL Saturday event.

Fifth but not least, I had the opportunity to attend great sessions such as:

• William Pearson’s “Attribute Discretization in Analysis Service”
  Learned a native way of grouping dimension attributes into buckets.
• Mark Tabladillo’s “Data Mining with PowerPivot 2010” 
  Learned the reason behind the need for so many data mining models and more insight on PowerPivot.
• Andy Warren’s “Building a Professional Development Plan”
  Learned that you have to consider yourself as a “business of one” and make a plan for your goals as such.
  Also, learned that when you blog do it for yourself primarily even if you repeat what others have already blogged. Unless you are blogging as a business, don’t wory about duplication of content, keeping in mind not to plagiarize.
• Julie Smith’s “Cool Tricks to Pull from your SSIS Hat”
  Learned how to skip an SSIS container without using precedence constraints.

I hope I didn’t leave anyone or anything out. It is not my intention to exclude anyone. These are just some of  my afterthoughts. Please comment on anything or anyone I left out.