[eNet Silicon Valley Power Special Article] Microsoft recently announced that the final release date of the next-generation database server SQL Server 2008 R2 has been finalized, and it will meet end users on May 6, 2010.
Previously, the industry has been wildly rumored that SQL 2008 R2 will be released in the first half of next year, but no one can give a specific date. A new benchmark white paper just released by Microsoft makes this specific date known to the world. According to the white paper: "SQL Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on May 6, 2010."
Microsoft just released the first public beta version of SQL Server 2008 R2 last month, which supports up to 256 logical processors and adds business intelligence functions. SQL Server 2008 R2, codenamed "Kilimanjaro" (Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa), is a transitional upgrade version of the existing SQL Server 2008. Microsoft also said that the final version of SQL Server 2008 R2 will include some high-end SKUs.
May 2010 is destined to be a very busy month for Microsoft. Not only because SQL 2008 R2 will be released, but according to the news just announced by Microsoft, Office 2010 will be released in June 2010. But I believe that Office 2010 will definitely be released to manufacturers before the end of June.
SQL 2008 R2 provides master data management, which is its biggest highlight. In addition, it also enhances the original database engine related functions, such as hardware support, geospatial data, SSMS, etc. Finally, the R2 version has further enhanced BI and can be integrated with next-generation products such as Excel2010 and SharePoint2010, making the BI function more powerful and easier to use.
In short, the industry has high expectations for SQL 2008 R2. Whether it can meet people's expectations will be known on May 6 next year.