Breaking: SQL Server 2014 RTM in two weeks

Today, MSDN and TechNet are reporting that SQL Server 2014 will be available on April 1, 2014.

Thanks to @MariaZakourdaev, who posted the news early this morning on Twitter:

So exiting!!! On April 1st SQL 2014 will be available!!

— Zakourdaev Maria (@MariaZakourdaev) March 18, 2014

This release looks like a win for fans of the database engine, warehousing, and HA. Columnstore!  IO in Resource Governor! Memory optimized tables! Twice the secondary replicas! SSIS and SSRS enthusiasts might feel a bit left out this time around, though.

One of the more interesting enhancements this time around is SQL Server Backup to URL, which we’ve technically had before, but which has always been frowned upon…frowned upon with deep, deep facial lines of disapproval. I’m curious to see how the SQL community will respond to this new innovation**.

Further reading:

• What’s new in SQL Server 2014
• Download SQL Server 2014 CTP2 (check out the Key Features section on this page, even if you don’t download it)

Happy days,
Jen McCown
http://www.MidnightDBA.com/Jen

**Read, “How backup to URL will stand up against the fury of 1,000 MVP/MCMs”.