July 2014 Update to SQL Server Data Tools

Latest release of SQL Server Data Tools(SSDT) is now available here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/hh297027

This update is now available for Visual Studio 2012 and 2013

Instead of the above link you can also get it from inside Visual Stuido 2012 via Tools -> Extensions and Updates->Updates.

What's new in this:
Of course more bug fixes and some of the following enhancements:

• Schema Compare update

         Added MSBuild support for Schema Compare with text and XML output.  A blog post is    available with more information.

• Improved Windows Azure SQL Database node in the Server Explorer

        Added Token-based authentication using a Microsoft account (MSA) or organizational account (OrgId)

        Added supported for VS2012

• Improved (Parallel Data Warehouse) PDW support

       PDW tooling is now part of the Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Desktop SKU.  This requires the VS 2013 Update 2 or later to be installed

      Support for PDW appliance updates in both VS2012 and VS2013

Also read:
http://brianwmitchell.com/2013/11/sql-server-to-pdw-migration-whitepaper/

SSDT for SQL Server 2014 here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2014/03/sql-server-data-tools-to-go-with-sql.html

SSDT BI_Templates here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/10/ssdt-bi-templates-for-sql-server-2012.html

SSDT Web Site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/tools.aspx

Details of Azure SQL Database Service Tiers and assoicated throughputs

Basic Guide to choosing Azure SQL Databases.

Let us begin with the new acronym DTU. DTU stands for Database Throughput Unit. DTU includes many of the measures such as CPU, memory and read/write rates to a database. DTU provides a guide for the customer to assess the new SQL Database performance levels - Basic, S1, S2, P1, P2,P3. Each of these is designed to provide higher throughput measured as a function of time (Basic in throughputs/hour, Standard(S1,S2) in throughput/minute and Premium (P1,P2 and P3) in throughput/sec.

I wonder whether Microsoft has something for me like throughputs/week!

The following table is from Shawn Bice's blog post.

Here are some throughput/time values tied to service levels:

Microsoft appears to not to say that these are not transaction guarantees for customers but provided to assist  making choices.