SQL Server Collation

Instead of just right clicking on SSMS , these are some alternatives to locating SQL Server Collation information I use.

 

--To find all collations available 
SELECT * FROM fn_helpcollations()

--To find the SQL Server Collation level 
select SERVERPROPERTY('collation')

--To find the database collation level 
SELECT DATABASEPROPERTYEX('MyDatabase', 'Collation') as DB_SQLCollation;

SQL Azure July 2011 Service Release

Key Points

Creating a common foundation between SQL Azure Cloud and Denali. Denali is SQL Server version 11 of the SQL Server Code.
Expanding capability for spatial data types - Geometry data type (Euclidean - flat-earth) and Georgraphy data type (ellipsoidal – round earth).

To interact with the new release , download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) , ensuring the version is at minimum 10.50.1777.0.  This allows SSMS to connect with the latest database version.

SQL Azure is the cloud-based version of SQL Server. Based on clustered SQL Servers.
An application, using client libraries such as ODBC, connect through Internet , using TCPIP and TDS to Load Balanced  servers. The Load Balancer forwards sticky sessions to the the TDS protocol tier in the Gateway. 

The Gateway has a TDS protocol layer , enforcing Authorisation, proxy to SQL servers

Billing is based on usage.

Related Posts

SQL Server Version with Powershell

SQL Server Versions

For full details go to :

MSDN announcement

Author: Jack Vamvas (http://www.sqlserver-dba.com)

SQL server 2008 R2 – Silent installation for the SSMS and client tools

SSMS Silent Install instructions

 1) Download the SQL Server 2008 R2 from the image library. This may take awhile as it’s a 5.5 GB .I prefer to do it from a local copy of files , as over the network it can take awhile

2) From the command line run the following command

C:\[SQLImagesPath]\setup.exe  /ACTION=INSTALL /QUIET /FEATURES=CONN,BC,SSMS

Author: Jack Vamvas (http://www.sqlserver-dba.com)

Viewing legacy DTS packages in SSMS

I installed SQL Server Management Studio  , to view some a SQL Server instance 2000.
I attempted to access the packages via the : "Management | Legacy | Data Tramsformation Services"
and got the following message:

SELECT permission denied on table sysdtspackages, database 'master', owner 'dbo'

I was perplexed , because when I attempted to view the DTS packages via SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Manager - I was to view tehm.

I got around the problem , via creating a new role called "DTS_user" and assigned
EXECUTE on sp_enum_dtspackages and sp_get_dtspackage in msdb.

I then went into the user and assigned that role.

 

Source:Jack Vamvas (http://www.sqlserver-dba.com)