SQL Server Magazine

Features

Resources and Events

Featured White Paper

Visualize What's Happening Within Your Database and SQL Code

Exclusive Email Offers

========== Sponsor: AppDev =============================

Free Download or CD:
     Learn SQL Server 2005. Get 3 hours of award-winning SQL Server 2005 training from AppDev--FREE! You'll receive step-by-step instruction by industry experts plus printable courseware--up to a $115 value.
      Get your free download or CD now.
      http://www.appdev.com/promo/RN00504

1. ======= Commentary ==========================================

Running SQL Server 2005 Express on Vista
      by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.com

Without a doubt, Microsoft's upcoming Windows Vista release will be the biggest bang in 2007. And regardless of whether you’re ready, Vista will begin making its way throughout businesses as early as this month. Microsoft plans to make Vista Enterprise available to volume-license customers this month, and Vista will probably be preinstalled on new PCs beginning in January 2007. Between now and then, Microsoft is also making an upgrade path for PCs purchased with the Windows XP Professional Edition, Windows XP, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition between October 26, 2006, and March 15, 2007. These customers will be able to upgrade to Vista Business free of change. Customers who purchase PCs that have XP Home Edition preinstalled will receive a 50 percent discount when they purchase Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium. For Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE) and SQL Server 2005 Express customers considering moving from XP to Vista, here are a few important things to know before you make the jump.

In "The Losers in the Race to Vista" (in the archive at http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/ArticleID/94055/94055.html ) I explain that Microsoft has made it clear that MSDE technology will not be supported on Vista. SQL Server Express is the recommended Vista upgrade path for existing MSDE installations. However, if you're contemplating the move from MSDE or if you're planning to upgrade your existing XP-based SQL Server Express installation to Vista, it's also important to understand that the SQL Server Express release to manufacturing (RTM) isn’t supported on Vista. You need SQL Server Express Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed for Vista compatibility. Even with SQL Server Express SP1, Vista's changes in User Account Control (UAC) affect SQL Server Express. UAC changes the way that Vista treats administrative users. UAC makes administrative users run with normal user permissions, then optionally elevates those privileges when an administrator attempts to perform tasks requiring administrative authority. This lack of administrative privileges causes problems with SQL Server Express because it removes the permissions required to access SQL Server Express. For adequate rights to log on to SQL Sever Express, you need to create a login for your Windows user account. You can create a new login by launching SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE). Use the "Run as administrator" option, then navigate to the Security folder and add a new login for your Windows account. Assign the "SysAdmin fixed server" role to that login. You don’t have to make any changes for user instances because they were designed to be run by nonadministrative users.

Full Vista compatibly will be part of the upcoming SQL Server Express SP1. You can download SQL Server Express SP1 from the Microsoft Web site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/download/ . Alternatively, if you turn on Microsoft's Automatic Updates feature you’ll receive this service pack.

For more information about running SQL Server Express on Vista, you can read the Microsoft article, "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on 'Microsoft Windows Server Longhorn' or Microsoft Windows Vista" at
      http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/windowsvistasupport.mspx

*********** Double-Take Software ******************************

Enhancing SQL Protection: A Case for Asynchronous Replication
      Built-in SQL Server data protection features aren't enough. Learn to use an automated data protection solution that provides 24x7 availability to meet today's critical business demands.
      http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlprotection/?code=SQLExpMid1106

2. ==== Features =======================

Jump Start: Creating Database Diagrams
      by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.com

One of the coolest hidden tools in SQL Server 2005 Express is Database Diagrams, a database-design tool that lets you visually lay out your database tables and their relationships. When you save your diagram, the tool generates all the database objects that you included. You can use the tool to create new database objects and to change the schema of existing objects.

To get started using Database Diagrams, you'll need to use SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE). To create a new database diagram, open SSMSE, then expand a database node. Beneath the database node, you'll see a Database Diagrams node. Initially this node will be empty, but you can create a new database diagram by right-clicking the node and selecting New Database Diagram from the context menu. Initially, you’ll see an Add Table dialog box that lets you add existing tables to your new diagram; this is how you’ll change the schema of existing tables.

To create a new set of tables, click Close on the Add Table dialog box. Then, right-click the design surface, and select New Table from the context menu. SSMSE prompts you for a table name, then the Table Designer appears. Enter the table's column names and their associated data types in the appropriate fields on the Table Designer. You can create one or more tables and drag connections between related columns. When you're finished creating a table, select Save Diagram from the File menu and enter the name of the diagram. Saving the diagram will create your new table.

***** HOT SPOT: Double-Take Software ************************

Enhance SQL Reporting Services with Double-Take
      SQL Reporting Services is an exciting way for organizations to gain access and insight into their important business data stored in SQL Server. Get an overview of how to increase your production server's performance by offloading Reporting Services to a secondary server. Download your free copy today!
      http://www.sqlmag.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlreporting/?code=SQLExpHot1106

Check It Out: The Database Publishing Wizard
      by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.com

Deploying your development databases to a Web-hosted SQL Server instance can be challenging. To make this task easier, Microsoft is developing a new Database Publishing Wizard that creates a SQL script that you can use to recreate your database in a hosted environment. You can check out the Community Technology Preview (CTP) of the new Database Publishing Wizard on Microsoft’s Web site at:
      http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=16d8c1e9-a6a3-43a2-9ba7-916c6eb5023b&displaylang=en

3. ==== Resources and Events ===========

TechX World
     No IT pro today works in a completely heterogeneous environment, and with virtualization, your chances of dealing with multiple OSs is increasing. Attend TechX World--available online December 14--and find out about virtualization, OS interoperability, directory and security integration, and data interoperability. Register today for free!
      http://events.unisfair.com/rt/techx?code=1108emailannc

Messaging Security for Small and Mid-sized Businesses
      Did you know that 75 percent of corporate intellectual property resides in email? The challenges facing this vital business application range from spam to the costly impact of downtime and the need for effective, centralized email storage systems. Join us for a free Web seminar and learn the key features of a holistic approach to managing email security, availability, and control. Live Event: Thursday, November 16.
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/symantec/messagingsecurity/?partnerref=1109emailannc

BONUS: Register for any Web seminar--live or on-demand--during the month of November, and you could win a PS3! View a full list of eligible seminars at
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/events/Index.cfm?Filter=webSeminars&fID=1

Optimize Your Resources with Server Consolidation
      Learn from industry expert Michael Otey about different approaches to server consolidation and how to stop server sprawl by using consolidation and virtualization. Find out how to use virtualization to run legacy OSs, make Linux and Windows coexist, and more. You'll even get step-by-step instructions for building a virtual machine for Windows Server 2003. On-demand Web seminar at
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/microsoft/serverconsolidation/?partnerref=1109emailannc

Windows Protection
      Your business, like most today, relies upon its computing systems to store financial information, house proprietary data, and maintain communications channels. This increasing reliance also increases the dangers to your systems from security breaches, including viruses, spyware, spam, and hackers. Visit the Windows Protection Site at
     http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/protection for the latest tips on safeguarding your system.

Top 5 Reasons Storage Consolidation Should Be On Every IT Department's Short List
      Information is the "I" in "IT." Do you know where your information is? Is it protected? Backed up? Download this free podcast today to find out the top 5 reasons that you should be considering storage consolidation.
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/podcast/hp/consolidation/?code=1109emailannc

4. ==== Featured White Paper ============

End-to-End Rights Management for the Enterprise
      Does your business require collaboration to get projects done? If so, you're at risk for having your valuable business data accidentally transferred to outside parties. Using enterprise rights management can help mitigate this risk and allow your users to work with confidence. Learn to extend Windows Rights Management Services to protect your digital information today!
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/liquidmachines/rightsmgmt/?code=1109featwp

===================================

WANTED: Your reviews of products you've tested and used in production. Send your experiences and ratings of products to "whatshot@windowsitpro.com" and get a Best Buy gift certificate.

5. Visualize What's Happening Within Your Database and SQL Code
      by Blake Eno, beno@windowsitpro.com

Killer Bite Software announced SQL Visualizer, a Windows client-based database query and management tool that helps developers create and maintain SQL Server code. SQL Visualizer features IntelliSense, custom-object scripting, data scripting, code snippets, and code regions. The product lets you navigate your database objects and visualize what's happening within your database and SQL code. You can search for database objects and content across multiple databases and servers and override server connections' properties at the database level. You can also view the history of previously executed queries maintained between sessions. A free 30-day trial of SQL Visualizer Premium Edition is available at Killer Bite Software's Web site. A free Select Edition that has reduced functionality is also available.
      http://www.sqlvisualizer.com/

6. ==== Exclusive Email Offers ====

Save $40 off SQL Server Magazine
      Subscribe to SQL Server Magazine today and SAVE $40! Along with your 12 issues, you'll get FREE access to the entire SQL Server Magazine online article archive, which houses more than 2,500 helpful SQL Server articles. This is offer expires on November 30, 2006, so order now:
      https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=9&promocode=eu216bus

Special Invitation for VIP Access
      Become a VIP subscriber and get continuous, inside access to ALL the content published in Windows IT Pro, SQL Server Magazine, and the Exchange and Outlook Administrator, Windows Scripting Solutions, and Windows IT Security newsletters. Subscribe now and SAVE $100:
      https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu276buv

==== Contact Us ====

About the newsletter--letters@sqlmag.com
About the commentary--mikeo@teca.com
About technical questions-- http://sqlforums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/default.aspx?forumid=10
About product news--products@sqlmag.com
About your subscription--sqlupdate@sqlmag.com
About sponsoring an issue of SQL Server Express UPDATE--Richard Resnick, rresnick@sqlmag.com

SQL Server Express UPDATE is brought to you by SQL Server Magazine, the only magazine devoted to helping developers and DBAs master new and emerging SQL Server technologies and issues. Subscribe today.
      https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=9&cid=51&promotionid=1491

Manage Your Account
You are subscribed as %%$email%%. To unsubscribe from this email newsletter, click here
      http://lists.sqlmag.com/u?id=%%SUBSCRIBER_ID_TAG%%

To manage your email account, simply log on to our Email Preference Center.
      http://www.sqlmag.com/email

View the SQL Server Magazine Privacy Policy.
      http://www.sqlmag.com/aboutus/index.cfm?action=privacy

SQL Server Magazine is a division of Penton Media, Inc.
221 East 29th Street
Loveland, CO 80538
Attention: Customer Service Department

Copyright 2006, Penton Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

End of Article