With the release of the latest version of Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server 2008 R2, Microsoft continues to build on the Information Platform Vision by enabling businesses to deliver near real-time information through rich applications. Not only does SQL Server offers a complete approach to managing, accessing and delivering information across the organization; but now the power of SQL Server is extending to the Cloud through SQL Azure. SQL Azure provides a consistent program model and common tools while offering new business opportunities, high availability, and massive scale through distributed data services.
SQL Server 2008 R2 delivers several breakthrough capabilities that will enable your organization to scale database operations with confidence, improve IT and developer efficiency, and enable highly scalable and well managed Business Intelligence on a self-service basis for your users.
What's New in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Editions
With SQL Server 2008 R2, Microsoft continues to be the value leader, offering rich functionality to support OLTP and BI workloads out of the box at a low cost of ownership relative to competitors. With increasing hardware innovations, SQL Server continues to be the only major database vendor who does not price per core for multi-core processors.
New in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Editions
Built on SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 R2 delivers higher mission-critical scale, more efficient IT, and expanded reporting and analytics through self-service business intelligence.
Investments in Core Editions
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise delivers a comprehensive data platform that provides built-in security, availability, and scale coupled with robust business intelligence offerings—helping enable the highest service levels for mission-critical workloads.
The following capabilities are new to Enterprise:
- PowerPivot for SharePoint to support the hosting and management of PowerPivot applications in SharePoint
- Application and Multi-Server Management for enrolling, gaining insights and managing up to 25 instances
- Master Data Services for data consistency across heterogeneous systems
- Data Compression now enabled with UCS-2 Unicode support
- High-scale complex event processing with SQL Server StreamInsight
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard
SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard delivers a complete data management and business intelligence platform for departments and small organizations to run their applications—helping enable effective database management with minimal IT resources.
The following capabilities are new to Standard:
- Backup Compression to reduce data backups by up to 60% and help reduce time spent on backups
- Can be managed instance for Application and Multi-Server Management capabilities
- High-scale complex event processing with SQL Server StreamInsight