Microsoft released on March 15 the first CTP (Community Technology Preview) of Service Pack 1 for its widely used SQL Server database.
SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 will feature data-mirroring technology, functionality that Microsoft cut at the last minute from SQL Server 2005 due to customer quality concerns.
The SP also includes SQL Server Management Studio Express, a front-end graphical tool for the Express version of Microsofts database.
Database mirroring allows for automated database continuity in case of failure.
As explained on Microsofts product Web site, “[I]n the event of a failure of the primary system, applications can immediately reconnect to the database on the secondary server.
“The secondary instance detects failure of the primary server within seconds and accepts database connections immediately.”
Microsofts SQL Server development team, lead by Senior Vice President Paul Flessner, confirmed that the final service pack code should be ready in April, many months ahead of a typical service pack.