Microsoft Sharpens Security, 'Serviceability' In New SQL Service Pack

The service pack, the first for the database in nearly a year, rolls together fixes from the first two service packs, sharpens security and improves "serviceability," said Sheryl Tullis, product manager at Microsoft.

It will also bring Microsoft's Dr. Watson technology into the database for the first time, she said.

Dr. Watson, already part of the software company's Office products and Windows operating system, is technology that provides near-realtime problem reports and feedback about product glitches to Microsoft's support and quality-assurance staffs.

During Microsoft's recent three-month security review of its products, important issues were addressed, with "hot fixes" available immediately to customers. Less-critical issues waited for the service pack, Tullis said.

In addition to patches and fixes, the company is updating its Books Online documentation by adding more security guidance, she said.

The third service pack is slated to ship in its final form by the end of this year. Service Pack 2 shipped last November.

In other database news, Microsoft is preparing a new beta of its 64-bit SQL Server, code-named Liberty, which the company plans to ship next month as well. That beta release will be optimized for use with Intel's 64-bit McKinley processor, Tullis said.

Microsoft has been working on this high-end database,targeted at enterprise use and data-mining applications,for more than a year.