Here's the October 2008 Technical Rollup mail for SQL. I found this on the main Technet blog feed.
Enjoy.
Downloads
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack, August 2008
Download the 2008 Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2008, a collection of stand-alone install packages that provide additional value for SQL Server 2008.
SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 and MSDE 2000 (KB948111)
Security Update for SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 and MSDE 2000 (KB948111)
SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 and MSDE 2000 (KB948110)
Security Update for SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 and MSDE 2000 (KB948110)
System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 Documentation
This download contains documentation for System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1.
ILM 2007 Getting Started
The Getting Started Collection introduces users to various features and functionality of ILM 2007.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Evaluation: Trial Experience for Developers
Download SQL Server 2008 180-day Trial Software. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is a database platform for large-scale online transaction processing (OLTP), data warehousing, and e-commerce applications; it is also a business intelligence platform for data analysis and reporting solutions.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Evaluation: Trial Experience for IT Professionals
Download SQL Server 2008 180-day Trial Software. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is a database platform for large-scale online transaction processing (OLTP), data warehousing, and e-commerce applications; it is also a business intelligence platform for data analysis and reporting solutions.
Update for Windows XP (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Vista (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems (KB954920)
In some instances, applications using WDAC may return errors and lose connections to SQL Server 2008 servers if they try to access data in the new collations.
Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB954920)
EMEA Case Study Resources
Case Study Resources
SQL Server 2005 VHD
This download comes as a pre-configured VHD. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a comprehensive, integrated, end-to-end data solution that empowers your people by providing a more secure, reliable, and productive platform for enterprise data and BI applications.
.NET Rocks! – Thiago Silva on Reporting Services for SQL 2008
Carl and Richard talk to Thiago Silva about the new features of Reporting Services for SQL Server 2008.
Security Update for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (KB954607)
A security issue has been identified in the SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 that could allow an attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it.
Security Update for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (KB954606)
A security issue has been identified in the SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 that could allow an attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it.
Security Update for SQL Server Reporting Services 2000 Service Pack 2 (KB954609)
A security issue has been identified in the SQL Server Reporting Services 2000 Service Pack 2 that could allow an attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it.
SQL 2005 NS Components RC1
The SQL Server 2005 Notification Services components package made available in the February 2007 release of the Feature Pack for SQL Server 2005 is being updated to include server components and work with both SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 databases.
Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit
The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) version 5.0 contains the necessary tools and documentation to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying Microsoft® Windows Vista, a Windows Update, or a new version of Windows® Internet Explorer® in your environment.
Microsoft® Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition GDR August CTP
Microsoft® Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition GDR implements support for SQL Server 2008.
Documents
Performance Optimizations for the XML Data Type in SQL Server 2005
This paper explores several ideas to improve the query and data modification performance of the XML data type in Microsoft SQL Server 2005. To get the most value from this paper, you need to be familiar with the XML features in SQL Server 2005. For background material, see XML Support in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and XML Best Practices for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on the Microsoft Development Network (MSDN). (26 printed pages)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345118(SQL.90).aspx
Reducing Database Size by Using Vardecimal Storage Format
Learn about the new storage format for storing decimal and numeric data in SQL Server 2005 SP2. Details include when and how to enable vardecimal storage format, restrictions, space savings, and its impact on the performance of your workload.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb508963(SQL.90).aspx
Connectivity and SQL Server 2005 Integration Services
This white paper enumerates the connectivity options for databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services and mentions special considerations that are required when using some database sources with some of the more complex transformations. (21 printed pages)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb332055(SQL.90).aspx
Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS) in SQL Server 2005
All Microsoft SQL Server data access application programming interfaces (APIs) provide an abstraction to represent sessions and requests within those sessions. SQL Server 2000 and earlier restricted the programming model such that at any point in time there would be at most one pending request on a given session. SQL Server 2005 implements Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS), which removes this constraint. This document explains the design, architecture, and semantic changes in MARS and what considerations must be taken into account by applications to get the maximum benefit out of these improvements. (15 printed pages)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345109(SQL.90).aspx
Comparing Tables Organized with Clustered Indexes versus Heaps
In SQL Server 2005, any table can have either clustered indexes or be organized as a heap (without a clustered index.) This white paper summarizes the advantages and disadvantages, the difference in performance characteristics, and other behaviors of tables that are ordered as lists (clustered indexes) or heaps. The performance for six distinct scenarios where DML operations are performed on these tables are measured and detailed observations presented. This white paper provides best practice recommendations on the merits of the two types of table organization, along with examples of when you might want to use one or the other.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/bestpractice/clusivsh.mspx
Database Encryption in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
With the introduction of transparent data encryption (TDE) in SQL Server 2008, users now have the choice between cell-level encryption as in SQL Server 2005, full database-level encryption by using TDE, or the file-level encryption options provided by Windows. TDE is the optimal choice for bulk encryption to meet regulatory compliance or corporate data security standards. TDE works at the file level, which is similar to two Windows® features: the Encrypting File System (EFS) and BitLocker™ Drive Encryption, the new volume-level encryption introduced in Windows Vista®, both of which also encrypt data on the hard drive. TDE does not replace cell-level encryption, EFS, or BitLocker. This white paper compares TDE with these other encryption methods for application developers and database administrators. While this is not a technical, in-depth review of TDE, technical implementations are explored and a familiarity with concepts such as virtual log files and the buffer pool are assumed. The user is assumed to be familiar with cell-level encryption and cryptography in general. Implementing database encryption is covered, but not the rationale for encrypting a database.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc278098.aspx
Events/Webcasts
Upgrade and Migration to SQL Server 2008 Webcast
Lunch and Learn Webcast – All About SQL 2008