One more test build to go for SQL Server 2008

Microsoft will roll out on November 12 some time later in November a third Community Technology Preview (CTP) test build of SQL Server 2008, the next-to-last CTP before finalizing the product in time for shipment in the second calendar quarter of next year.

CTP 3 of SQL Server 2008 adds compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, as well as some new features, including a Resource Governor, Backup Compression and Transparent Data Encryption, company officials said on November 12. There are also new business-intelligence (BI) features introduced in CTP 3, including Design Alerts, block computation and an enhanced Report Designer with new visualizations. The latest build also allows customers store and consume data using new FILESTREAM data types for unstructured data, Microsoft said.

In order to speed up its SQL Server development process, Microsoft has been testing SQL Server 2008, code-named "Katmai," via a series of CTPs, rather than more traditional betas. Microsoft released a first SQL Server 2008 CTP in June, and a second in July.

Microsoft plans to launch officially SQL Server 2008 on February 27, 2008, at an event in Los Angeles, where Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 also will be launched. SQL Server 2008 isn't slated to be released to manufacturing until after the launch event, however.