Preview: Microsoft's "Katmai" filled to the brim

Jewels of Katmai

There are far too many new features in Katmai to discuss in one place. I didn't even get a chance to touch the almost complete rewrite of SQL Server Reporting Services or all the work that was done in SQL Server Integration Services or SQL Server Analysis Services. And then there's the management data warehouse, interactive Dundas drill-down reports, IntelliSense, the new activity monitor, PowerShell integration, and much more.

For most SQL Server shops, I think the big news in this release is going to be data compression and the CDC, because both are going to affect shops where it counts: their budgets. The Resource Governor is a nice feature, but I think it's still too young and has too many limitations to make the splash Microsoft is hoping for. It will likely take another couple of releases before Microsoft turns it into something that can make a real difference in a lot of shops.

Compressed and filtered indexes are going to make a difference right away, and while caveats exist with filtered indexes, if you use them right, you'll see the benefits you expect. The tools have also seen some significant improvements, but there will still be disappointments for DBAs who don't want to be treated like developers. But as long as it took to release SQL Server 2005, this version is shaping up to be what SQL Server 2005 should have been from the beginning.