Learn, Build, Grow...Intelligent Collaboration: June 2008

Monday, June 30, 2008

Compare SQL Server Enterprise & Standard Editions - Business Intelligence features

Jason Morales' Microsoft BI Update : Compare SQL Server Enterprise & Standard Editions - Business Intelligence features:

Enterprise & Standard Edition Feature Comparisons:
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Business Intelligence features of SQL Server Enterprise Edition:
(that are not in the Standard Edition)

Advanced Analytics
- Account intelligence
- Linked measures and dimensions
- Perspectives
- Semiadditive measures
- Writeback dimensions
Scalability and Performance
- Proactive caching
- Partitioned cubes and di stributed partitioned cubes
- Auto parallel partition processing
Integration Services
- Data mining query transformation
- Data mining model training destination adapter
- Fuzzy Grouping transformation
- Fuzzy Lookup transformation
- Term Extraction transformation
- Dimension processing destination adapter
- Partition processing destination adapter
Reporting Services
- Data-driven subscriptions
- Report scale-out deployment
- Infinite clickthrough in ad-hoc reports
- Scale-out operational report configuration**
Data Warehousing
- Data compression**
- Star join query optimizations**
- Change data capture (CDC)**
- Scalable data marts and reporting**
Data Mining
- Parallelism for model processing & prediction
- Advanced Data Mining algorithms with algorithm plug-in API
- Advanced configuration and tuning options for data mining algorithms
- Time series capabilities**

** double-star denotes feature of SQL Server 2008
Introduction to New Data Warehouse Scalability Features in SQL Server 2008

PerformancePoint Planning Server requires SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
PerformancePoint Monitoring and Analytics do not require SQL Enterprise Edition, although features listed above may compel upgrade

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Microsoft SharePoint Sales To Hit $1 Billion In 2008 -- Microsoft -- InformationWeek

Microsoft SharePoint Sales To Hit $1 Billion In 2008 -- Microsoft -- InformationWeek: "With more companies looking to make critical information easily accessible to and shareable with employees, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) said Monday that it expects total sales of its SharePoint online collaboration software will surpass the $1 billion mark in 2008."

Monday, June 09, 2008

Jason Morales' Microsoft BI Update v.21 - June

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Red Gate Software - Be an Exceptional DBA

I highly recommend - Red Gate Software - Be an Exceptional DBA: "Boost your DBA expertise

You know what it's like to be a DBA. Your skills are in constant demand at work, so how do you set aside time each week to maintain and learn new skills? Brad McGehee, SQL Server expert and Director of DBA Education of Red Gate Software, offers you an Ebook packed with hard-learned advice on how to achieve more during your working hours. Be an Exceptional DBA."

Thursday, June 05, 2008

TechNet Webcast: PerformancePoint Server 2007: Planning Implementation Methodologies and Best Practices (Level 200)

TechNet Webcast: PerformancePoint Server 2007: Planning Implementation Methodologies and Best Practices (Level 200): "Start Time:Tuesday, June 10, 2008 8:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Language(s): English.
Product(s): Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007.
Audience(s): IT Professionals.

Duration: 90 Minutes
Start Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 8:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)"

Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 SP1 Shipped!

From: Joey Fitts [mailto:joeyf@microsoft.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 7:40 PMTo: Joey FittsSubject: Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 SP1 Shipped!

We are very happy to announce that Service Pack 1 of Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 has been signed off to ship! Representing Microsoft in the growing performance management market, PerformancePoint Server allows customers to align employees to their organization’s strategy by:

· Planning for the future of the business
· Monitoring the performance of your organization
· Analyzing the results

Thanks to everyone who worked on this release (there were many involved) and those in other organizations that assisted in that work. This is our first service pack of our first release so it signals a milestone in our internal rhythm of business.

With this new Service Pack, many enhancements have been made to help customers enhance their decision making with the monitoring, analyzing and planning functionality found in PerformancePoint Server. Usability, stability and performance enhancements are key focus areas for PerformancePoint Server SP1. Customers will have new workbook options to help improve the performance of queries and show the effects of changes in planning assignments for better “what-if” analysis.

Customers using strategy maps and KPI’s for monitoring and analytics will see improvements to scorecard and filter usability. Scorecards with negative numbers are easier to read and dashboards with filters are now much faster to render and provide the ability to link reports directly to KPI’s. There is also added support for Tabular filters and Time Intelligence Post Formula filters, as well as the ability to link multiple filters to a strategy map.

In addition, SP1 adds support for Windows Server 2008. Support for SQL Server 2008 will be available later this year with PerformancePoint Server SP2.

For more information about what’s available in SP1, please check the online help:
Office Online: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/performancepoint/FX102380591033.aspx

PerformancePoint Server SP1 availability:

Download Center Pages:
Enterprise Version 32-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28B1F86B-B7F2-4215-8BC9-8F8507FF8831&displaylang=en
Enterprise Version 64-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6245C354-9191-4C4D-8C0C-C10D6C778AF8&displaylang=en
Evaluation Version 32-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6372C24F-67DD-42DD-B034-748907B23420&displaylang=en
Evaluation Version 64-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3ADAC793-DEF0-4BA8-A9AB-228979B8DB40&displaylang=en

ProductsWeb for internal users:
http://productsweb/product.aspx?productnameid=2170&status=3&platformid=-999&category=1

MSDN:We anticipate SP1 availability for MSDN subscribers in the next couple of weeks.

Volume Licensing:
English bits will be available in Volume Licensing in August, 2008

Documentation:
On Office Online: Links to README and other useful information: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/performancepoint/FX102380591033.aspx
On TechNet: For the IT pro - Deployment Guide, Operations Guide, Whitepapers: http://technet.microsoft.com/office/performancepoint/default.aspx

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

SQL Data Mining | Channel 9

SQL Data Mining yizhe Channel 9: "In a recent Heroes Community Launch, Dennis (IT Pro Evangelist) caught up with SQL Server MVP, Wee Hyong, who is one of the brains behind a local community event. The event combines 3 local community groups and runs a full day of topics, Tech.Ed style. Wee Hyong discusses about how he applied Data Mining techniques to help with generating more personalized experience and what Data Mining could do to drive the communities forward. The introduction of Data Mining opens new doors and modes of engagements for User Group community. A variant of this video is also shared via UGTV.”"

Ben Tamblyn's Blog- Downloadable implementation plans for PerformancePoint server 2007

Intelligent Insight on PerformancePoint : Downloadable implementation plans for PerformancePoint server 2007: "Downloadable implementation plans for PerformancePoint server 2007
A wealth of new content (templates, project plans and worksheets) has been made available on TechNet to assist partners and customers with implementing PerformancePoint Server 2007.
There are links to this content below:
Project Plan Framework (.pptx)
Dimension Mapping for Input Forms/Output Reports (.xls)
PerformancePoint Server Configuration (template) (.xlsx)
Monitoring and Analytics Project Plan (template) (.mpp)
Operations and Maintenance Guide (template) (.docx)
Planning Design Configuration (template) (.docx) [Forthcoming]
Planning Project (template) (.mpp)
PerformancePoint Server Specifications (template) (.docx)
Preliminary Requirements Gathering and Scoping Questionnaire (.docx)
Source Dimension Fact Data Mapping (.xlsx)
Test Plan (template) (.docx)
Training Plan (template) (.docx)"

BI Report Automation Publisher - Home

BI Report Automation Publisher - Home: "Project Description
The BI Report Automation Publisher is a command line tool + .net library which provides a more automated way to move reports between servers/environments. Useful when using PerformacnePoint (PPS), Proclarity Analytic Server (PAS) or MOSS/Sharepoint

Background
This was made with publishing elements in PerformancePoint in mind, however, the following publishing scenarios are currently supported:

PerformancePoint
Proclarity Analytic Server
Excel 2007 file used for Excel Services

If you use Proclarity Analytic Server (PAS) and want to integrate reports with PPS (PerformancePoint), you will find there has been a focus in this tool to make it very seamless when switching servers. Including the ability to have a list of links on PPS that point to the PAS reports automatically updated."

PerformancePoint Server 2007 Planning data migration tool

PerformancePoint Server 2007 Planning data migration tool: "PerformancePoint Server 2007 Planning data migration tool
The PerformancePointPlanningDataMigrationTool.exe enables users to migrate reference and fact data for PerformancePoint Server Planning applications. For additional information, see Migrating Planning Server data from a test environment.
Click to download the Planning data migration tool (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=119289).

System requirements:
The operating system must be one of the following:
Windows XP (excluding XPe) with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Windows Vista (Business, Enterprise), 32-bit and 64-bit editions
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2008
Installed applications:
Microsoft Business Modeler 2007"

Learn, Build, Grow...Intelligent Collaboration