This is the industry's most comprehensive and useful guide to SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2. It presents start-to-finish coverage of SQL Server's core database server and management capabilities, plus complete introductions to Integration, Reporting, and Analysis Services, application development, and much more.

Four expert SQL Server administrators, developers, and consultants have packed this book with real-world information, tips, guidelines, and samples drawn from their own extensive experience creating and managing complex database solutions. Writing for intermediate-to-advanced-level SQL Server professionals, they focus on the product's most complex and powerful capabilities, and its newest tools and features. For example, you'll find invaluable information on administering SQL Server more efficiently, analyzing and optimizing queries, implementing data warehouses, ensuring high availability, and tuning performance.

The accompanying CD-ROM contains an extraordinary library of practical tools and information including sample databases and all code examples. Whether you're responsible for SQL Server 2008 analysis, design, implementation, support, administration, or troubleshooting, no other book offers you this much value.

Understand the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 environment, R2's newest features, and each edition's capabilities

Manage SQL Server 2008 more effectively with SQL Server Management Studio, the SQLCMD command-line query tool, and Powershell

Efficiently manage security, users, backup/restore, replication, Database Mail, and database objects-from tables and indexes to stored procedures and triggers

Increase availability with clustering, database mirroring, and other features

Use new Policy-Based Management to centrally configure and operate SQL Server throughout the organization

Use SQL Server Profiler to capture queries and identify bottlenecks

Improve performance by optimizing queries, design more effective databases, and manage workloads with the new Resource Governor

Develop applications using SQL Server 2008's enhancements to T-SQL and SQLCLR, .NET integration, LINQ to SQL, XML, and XQuery

Make the most of Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services-especially Microsoft's new R2 reporting improvements

Improve data security using Column-level and Transparent Data Encryption

CD-ROM includes:

15 additional chapters

Code samples, scripts, and databases utilized within the book

Free version of SQL Shot (performance & tuning software)