Microsoft released SQL Server 2005 SP2 CTP

Microsoft released SQL Server SP2 Community Technology Preview (CTP) this month to address a number of known issues and provide some enhancements to the database engine. Remember that this service pack is still a CTP and is not intended for use in production.

What’s new in SP2

SQL Server 2005 SP2 contains a number of enhancements that include support for maintenance plans without having to install SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), new alternate storage format (vardecimal) in the Enterprise Edition that can be used to minimize the disk space, logon triggers and a common criteria compliance enabled Option in the Enterprise Edition, Plan cache improvements, and SMO enhancements. View the complete list.

Download SP2 - Community Technology Preview (CTP) November 2006

SQL Server 2005 SP2 CTP will upgrade all editions of SQL Server 2005 to SP2 except Express Edition. You must use Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP2 to upgrade instances of SQL Server Express to SP2. SQL Server Express SP2 can also be used to install a new instance of SQL Server Express.

Download this service pack for the Enterprise, Developer, Standard, and Workgroup Editions: Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1; Windows Small Business Server 2003; Windows XP Service Pack 2

Download this service pack for SQL Server Express Edition: Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1; Windows Vista; Windows XP Service Pack 2