SQL Server 2008 System Views Map Availability and More

Microsoft published the SQL Server 2008 System Views Map a few weeks ago, and it’s available for download from www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=531c53e7-8a2a-4375-8f2f-5d799aa67b5c&displaylang=en. Kudos to Boris Baryshnikov from Microsoft for pulling the poster together with support from SQL Server MVP Ron Talmage. These posters are perennial favorites within the SQL Server community, so I’m sure you’ll want to grab a copy. You can download the file in PDF or XPS format from Microsoft, although you’ll be stuck with a lot of taped together pages if you’re want the poster to grace your wall for easy reference. You can’t order a printed version directly from Microsoft, but Kinko’s or a commercial printer can get you a copy suitable for hanging on your wall. Also, SQL Server Magazine told me it’s working on making print copies of the System Views Map available through Left-Brain.com, Penton Media’s new storefront. I don't know when the poster will be orderable, but I’ll be sure to let you know once it’s available on Left-Brain.com. I know many of you are still running SQL Server 2005, and there’s a system table poster available for that version as well at www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=2EC9E842-40BE-4321-9B56-92FD3860FB32&displaylang=en.

While we’re on the topic of documentation, I would also like to point out that a new version of SQL Server 2008 Books Online (BOL) is now available at www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=765433F7-0983-4D7A-B628-0A98145BCB97&displaylang=en.  Life won’t end if you’re using an older version of BOL, but it’s always best to be as up-to-date as possible on the primary set of reference data for SQL Server that you probably use day in and day out.

Also, although most of Microsoft has a hiring freeze, including a large round of layoffs that started in July, the Madison team, led by Christian Kleinerman, has several open spots on its development team. Madison is the code name for the integration of DATAllegro data warehousing technology, which was acquired last year. Christian asked me to help get the word out about these job openings. So if you’re a developer interested in helping shape Microsoft’s data warehousing technology and would like to work on Madison, send your resume to Christian at [email protected]