Cuball's WebLog

SQL Server Express

SQL Server Express http://www.microsoft.com/sql/express is the next generation of free relational database that allows both developers as well as administrators the ability to build and integrate relational databases for free. Taking a first look at the differences between MSDE and SQL Server Express you will see a few that are very evident.

• There is a GUI for administration Express Manager (XM)
• Symmetrical Multiprocessing is not available.
• Database Size has increased to 4GB
• Common language runtime (CLR) integration
• Graphical installation with command line available
• Deep integration with Visual Studio
• No transaction Throttle
• 1 CPU 1GB RAM
• XCopy support

SQL Server Express doesn't include high availability features such as data mirroring and clustering, full-text search, SQL Agent, DTS, Reporting Services, Analysis Services, Notification Services, or full management-tools suite called SQL Management Studio which is formally know as the Enterprise Manager.

SQL Server Express will no make a more viable choice for everyone from developers as well as to Service providers that want to offer a solution to low end relational databases. At the same time offer an up sell to SQL Server as the business or applications needs more availability.

New Exchange items of Interest

256352 Online Defragmentation Does Not Reduce Size of .edb Files

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=256352

255035 XADM: How to Recover Hard Disk Space from Exchange Server Databases

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=255035

Best Practices for Exchange Database Management whitepaper:

http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/techinfo/administration/55/BestDBManage.asp

Virtual Sever 2005 used for Migration

Microsoft is pushing its upcoming Virtual Server 2005 software as the means for partners to migrate customers from NT Server 4.0 systems across to Windows Server 2000 and 2003.

To pull a quote from Microsoft “Up to 25 per cent of Microsoft server customers were still operating on a NT 4.0 platform. Of these, some 60 per cent were still running line of business applications incompatible with the newer 2000 or 2003 server products, including Microsoft’s Exchange 5.5 and SQL 7, as well as third-party business applications.” pulled from http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php?id=348235234 

Evaluate Microsoft Virtual Sever 2005 here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/rceval.mspx

PSS paper on MemoryDumps

PSS from Microsoft wrote a whitepaper that describes memory dump files and their uses.  The paper was created in response to customers who have voiced frustration with requests to obtain multiple memory dump files to troubleshoot problems. This paper is specifically geared towards Exchange to assist customers in obtaining dump files. This document will help explain the importance of capturing memory dumps and help everyone understand why PSS frequently requests them.

The paper discusses the following key areas:

• Definition of a memory dump file 
• Differences between full memory dump files and mini memory dump files
• An explanation of why it takes so long to create a memory dump file 
• An overview of tools that are used to capture memory dump files 
• A discussion of capturing hangs, performance problems and crashes with memory dump files
• An explanation of why engineers will need multiple memory dump files to diagnose certain problems 
• A chart that customers can view to set their expectations on the type of data PSS needs to begin troubleshooting certain conditions

Currently this document is found here: http://support.microsoft.com/support/exchange/content/whitepapers/MemoryDump.doc

Also take a look at the following post on how to use ADPlus to Troubleshoot

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;286350

Help File for Exchange 2003 SP1

The Exchange 2003 Help was specifically designed to assist in day-to-day administration of Exchange. The documentation guides you through many things feature wise that is new in Service Pack1. These are the areas that are addressed feature wise

•  tasks
• administration procedures

The Exchange Help augments the online articles, books, and release notes about Exchange 2003. It provides all the important conceptual and procedural information you need after you deploy Exchange.

You can get information about everyting in the help file here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/library/sp1help.mspx

If you dont want to read anything and just download the file go here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=01177AB1-4993-4073-A14F-EAD4E1189DBB&displaylang=en

Cuball