Yukon 2005 Features
1. T-SQL (Transaction SQL) enhancements
T-SQL is the native set-based RDBMS programming language offering
high-performance data access. It now incorporates many new features including
error handling via the TRY and CATCH paradigm, Common Table Expressions (CTEs), which return a record set in a statement, and the
ability to shift columns to rows and vice versa with the PIVOT and UNPIVOT
commands.
· More
information from Microsoft.
2. CLR (Common Language Runtime)
The next major enhancement in SQL Server 2005 is the integration of a .NET
compliant language such as C#, ASP.NET or VB.NET to build objects (stored
procedures, triggers, functions, etc.). This enables you to execute .NET code
in the DBMS to take advantage of the .NET functionality. It is expected to
replace extended stored procedures in the SQL Server 2000 environment as well
as expand the traditional relational engine capabilities.
· More
information from Microsoft.
3. Service Broker
The Service Broker handles messaging between a sender and receiver in a loosely
coupled manner. A message is sent, processed and responded to, completing the
transaction. This greatly expands the capabilities of data-driven applications
to meet workflow or custom business needs.
· More
information from Microsoft.
4. Data encryption
SQL Server 2000 had no documented or publicly supported functions to encrypt
data in a table natively. Organizations had to rely on third-party products to
address this need. SQL Server 2005 has native capabilities to support
encryption of data stored in user-defined databases.
· More
information from Microsoft.
5. SMTP mail
Sending mail directly from SQL Server 2000 is possible, but challenging. With
SQL Server 2005, Microsoft incorporates SMTP mail to improve the native mail
capabilities. Say "see-ya" to Outlook on
SQL Server!
· More
information from Microsoft.
6. HTTP endpoints
You can easily create HTTP endpoints via a simple
T-SQL statement exposing an object that can be accessed over the Internet. This
allows a simple object to be called across the Internet for the needed data.
· More
information from Microsoft.
7. Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS)
MARS allow a persistent database connection from a single client to have more
than one active request per connection. This should be a major performance
improvement, allowing developers to give users new capabilities when working
with SQL Server. For example, it allows multiple searches, or a search and data
entry. The bottom line is that one client connection can have multiple active
processes simultaneously.
· More information from
Microsoft.
8. Dedicated administrator connection
If all else fails, stop the SQL Server service or push
the power button. That mentality is finished with the dedicated administrator connection.
This functionality will allow a DBA to make a single diagnostic connection to
SQL Server even if the server is having an issue.
· More
information from Microsoft.
9. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
SSIS has replaced DTS (Data Transformation Services) as the primary ETL
(Extraction, Transformation and Loading) tool and ships with SQL Server free of
charge. This tool, completely rewritten since SQL Server 2000, now has a great
deal of flexibility to address complex data movement.
· For
more information from Microsoft.
10. Database mirroring
It's not expected to be released with SQL Server 2005 at the RTM in November,
but I think this feature has great potential. Database mirroring is an
extension of the native high-availability capabilities. So, stay tuned for more
details…. For now, here's