Link to be bookmarked if you are using SQL Servers

You often come across a problem in your interaction with SQL Servers and you may often wonder where to go for help. This link gives you a list of other links that points in the right direction. Google, Bing or Yahoo search may ultimately lead you to the correct place, but why not look this one up first.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlgetstarted/thread/da8c68a5-c1be-428d-a5c8-0bae67948aa3

Build error related to SQL Express in Microsoft LightSwitch

The following message still shows up sometimes while creating and building Microsoft LightSwitch applications. This has not been rectified in the recently released RTM version as seen in the next paragraph.
.....................
Error    1    An error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server instance '.\SQLEXPRESS'.
Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server due to a failure in starting the process for the user instance. The connection will be closed.    C:\Program Files\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\LightSwitch\v1.0\Microsoft.LightSwitch.targets    157    10    BusinessTypeTest
.................................

However a work around exists which works very well. Here is the work around as suggested by Steven Hoag in his forum post.

• Stop SQL Express from Control Panel

• Close all LightSwitch apps

• Move to the following location:

C:\Users\jay\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Data\SQLEXPRESS

• Delete all the files in the SQLEXPRESS Folder.
  

However when you come to the step of deleting the files you may still get an error, that the files are being used by the SQL Server (despite the fact that you stopped SQL Express in the Control Panel).

To remove them go to the task master (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and bring up the WindowsTask Master window as shown.



 

Click End Process.

  











Click End Process for sqlserver.exe in the next window.


Now you can delete all files in the SQLExpress folder

After this start SQLEXPRESS and the previous application which threw the error should build without this error.

SQL Azure - July 2011 Service Release

In order to improve performance and scaling an update is in process spanning all the global data centers. The upcoming enhancements are not released but will be announced towards the end of the year. This is an important release as it targets the underlying engine. It is also important as it provides a common ground for SQL Azure and the near future release of SQL Server 11 - presently known with the code name  'Denali'.

The new release will support multiple data base administrators (Ye! Windows Azure is not going taking away your jobs, you just need to upgrade your skills). Also much better support for spatial data types making it a perfect fit for location aware apps both mobile and immobile.

The one thing that needs to be done on your side is the following: you should get hold of the latest version of SQL Server Management Tools, because the version number will change. Many users of lower versions might have already noted this while trying to connect to 'Denali' from older versions. The links to get the latest updates available in SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 are:

    * SQL Server Management Studio (http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26727)
    * SQL Server Management Studio Express(http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26729)

If you are using SMO (SQL Server Management Objects) then you should get the
Cumulative Update package 7 for SQL Server 2008 R2                                                              (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2507770)
When all is said and done your version of SSMS should have a version greater or equal to 10.50.1777.0 in order not to have connectivity issues.

This one is for SSMS that came with SQL Server 2008 R2: No good!

This one is for SSMS installed when CTP1 'Denali' was installed:

Clearly if I use the above I should not have any connectivity problems.

If you are a DBA trying to upgrade your skills to understand SQL Azure, my book is a must read. You could get a free copy by sending an email to me at mysorian@gmail.com with 'SQL Azure' in the subject line. Who knows you may be lucky and get a book or a ebook in the raffle.