What’s New in SQL Server 2008?

What’s New in SQL Server 2008?

New in SQL Server Installation
SQL Server 2008 has new Setup architecture for the following scenarios: installation, upgrade, maintenance, failover clustering, and command prompt installations.
The SQL Server Installation Wizard is Windows Installer-based. It provides a single feature tree for installation of all SQL Server components, so you do not have to install the following components individually:
• Database Engine
• Analysis Services
• Reporting Services
• Integration Services
• Replication
• Management tools
• Connectivity components
• Sample databases, samples, and SQL Server Books Online
New in SQL Server Database Engine:
This latest release of the SQL Server Database Engine introduces new features and enhancements that increase the power and productivity of architects, developers, and administrators who design, develop, and maintain data storage systems.
These are the areas in which the Database Engine has been enhanced.
Topic Description
Availability Enhancements (Database Engine) The availability of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 databases is improved by enhancements to database mirroring. Database mirroring enables the creation of hot standby servers that provide rapid failover support with no loss of data from committed transactions.
Manageability Enhancements (Database Engine) Manageability of the SQL Server 2008 Database Engine is simplified by enhancements to tools and monitoring features.
Programmability Enhancements (Database Engine) Programmability enhancements in the Database Engine include new data storage features, new data types, new full-text search architecture, and numerous improvements and additions to Transact-SQL.
Scalability and Performance Enhancements (Database Engine) Scalability and performance enhancements in the Database Engine include filtered indexes and statistics, new table and query hints, and new query performance and query processing features.
Security Enhancements (Database Engine) Security enhancements in the Database Engine include new encryption functions, the transparent data encryption and extensible key management features, and a clarification of DES algorithms.

What's New (Replication?)

Replication Monitor includes the following usability improvements:
• In most Replication Monitor grids, you can now do the following: select which columns to view; sort by multiple columns; and filter rows in the grid based on column values.

To access this functionality: right-click a grid, and then select Choose Columns to Show, Sort, Filter, or Clear Filter. Filter settings are specific to each grid. Column selection and sorting are applied to all grids of the same type, such as the publications grid for each Publisher.
• The Common Jobs tab for the Publisher node has been renamed to Agents. The Agents tab now provides a centralized location to view information about all the agents and jobs that are associated with publications at the selected Publisher. Agents and jobs that are associated with publications include the following:
• The Snapshot Agent, which is used by all publications.
• The Log Reader Agent, which is used by all transactional publications.
• The Queue Reader Agent, which is used by transactional publications that are enabled for queued updating subscriptions.
• Maintenance jobs, which are used by all publications.
The Distribution Agent and Merge Agent are associated with subscriptions to publications.