SQL Updates Newsletter - March 2015

Recent Releases and Announcements

· SQL 2012 SP1 CU 15

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3038001

· SQL 2012 SP2 CU 5

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3037255

· An on-demand hotfix update package is available for SQL Server 2014

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3043788

· SQL Release Services Blog

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlreleaseservices/

· Azure AD Connect Preview 2 is available

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/mackblog/archive/2015/03/25/azure-ad-connect-preview-2-is-available.aspx

· Microsoft Enhances Data Platform with Availability of Fully-Managed NoSQL and Search Services

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2015/03/05/microsoft-enhances-data-platform-with-availability-of-fully-managed-nosql-and-search-services.aspx?linkId=12713066

o Generally available today, Azure Search is a fully manage search service that enables developers to easily add search capabilities to web and mobile applications.

o We are also announcing the April 8 general availability of Azure DocumentDB, our NoSQL document database-as-a-service.

o Search-as-a-Service: Azure Search is now Generally Available

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/msgulfcommunity/archive/2015/03/12/search-as-a-service-azure-search-is-now-generally-available.aspx

· Announcing Azure Preview Portal Improvements

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/mackblog/archive/2015/03/05/announcing-azure-preview-portal-improvements.aspx

· Power BI for iPad and iPhone - Now Available Worldwide

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/user_ed/archive/2015/03/16/power-bi-for-ipad-and-iphone-now-available-worldwide.aspx

o The Power BI for iOS app is now globally available

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/18/the-power-bi-for-ios-app-is-now-globally-available.aspx

· We’re happy to announce version 2.2 of the Microsoft Azure Cost Estimator

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/cbernier/archive/2015/03/26/microsoft-azure-cost-estimator-version-2-2.aspx

· MySkills4Afrika and Power BI

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/19/myskills4afrika-and-power-bi.aspx

· Introducing Microsoft ISV Partner Program (VIPP)

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/zxue/archive/2015/03/10/introducing-microsoft-isv-partner-program-vipp.aspx

· Announcing Microsoft Azure for Student Developers

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/stevengu/archive/2015/03/23/announcing-microsoft-azure-for-student-developers.aspx

· Microsoft Project Siena - Create a Windows 8.1 App with “zero” Lines of Code

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/premier_developer/archive/2015/03/11/microsoft-project-siena-create-a-windows-8-1-app-with-zero-lines-of-code.aspx

· Attunity CDC to replace Oracle Publishing

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/repltalk/archive/2015/03/04/repltalk-quicktip-attunity-cdc-to-replace-oracle-publishing.aspx

· Here are the Windows hotfix releases for March 2015

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/winsdk/archive/2015/03/12/hotfix-releases-for-windows-march-2015.aspx

· Power BI Preview now available worldwide

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/16/power-bi-preview-now-available-worldwide.aspx

· Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Update 1 Preview Now Available

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/msdeployment/archive/2015/03/02/microsoft-deployment-toolkit-2013-update-1-preview-now-available.aspx

· Updated SQL Server PHP Driver Now Available

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2015/03/09/updated-sql-server-php-driver-now-available.aspx

· 7 New Updates to the Power BI Designer Preview

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/26/7-new-updates-to-the-power-bi-designer-preview-march-2015.aspx?linkId=13216978

§ Google Analytics connector

§ Additional operators for date filtering in Query view

§ Automatic Model Relationship Detection

§ Enhanced Add Relationship dialog

§ Report Pages Re-ordering (drag & drop)

§ ~40-50% Performance Improvement filling database tables without filters/transforms

§ Lots of bug fixes

· 3 new reasons to love Power Query!

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/user_ed/archive/2015/03/05/3-new-reasons-to-love-power-query.aspx

o Performance improvements

o Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online connector

o New transformations

· New Power Map Features - Coming Soon!

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/user_ed/archive/2015/03/13/new-power-map-features-coming-soon.aspx

· Windows 10 developer tooling is now available to Windows Insiders!

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/premier_developer/archive/2015/03/23/windows-10-developer-tooling-is-now-available-to-windows-insiders.aspx

· DacSamples Moves from CodePlex to GitHub

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2015/03/19/dacsamples-moves-from-codeplex-to-github.aspx

· The SQL Server Data Tools team is pleased to announce an update for SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio and the Data-tier Application Framework (DACFX) is now available

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2015/03/03/sql-server-data-tools-and-data-tier-application-framework-update-for-february-2015.aspx

· Microsoft joins forces with GitHub to offer students more free developer tools

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/mvpmentor/archive/2015/03/03/microsoft-joins-forces-with-github-to-offer-students-more-free-developer-tools.aspx

· Cloud Platform Release Announcements for March 5, 2015

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/mackblog/archive/2015/03/12/cloud-platform-release-announcements-for-march-5-2015.aspx

· SQL Server 2014 now released by SAP for SAP NetWeaver 7.xx

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/saponsqlserver/archive/2015/03/11/sql-server-2014-now-released-by-sap-for-sap-netweaver-7-xx.aspx

· SQL Server 2014 Columnstore: Released for SAP BW

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/saponsqlserver/archive/2015/03/23/sql-server-2014-columnstore-released-for-sap-bw.aspx

· Entity Framework 6.1.3 available

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/adonet/archive/2015/03/10/ef6-1-3-rtm-available.aspx

· Recent Whitepapers/E-books/Training:

o [The Hybrid Cloud for the IT Professional: The Blog Series

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/blainbar/archive/2015/03/16/hybrid-cloud-for-the-it-professional-blog-series-read-on.aspx

o Webinar] Analysis Services Connector in the Microsoft Power BI Preview

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/10/webinar-analysis-services-connector-in-the-microsoft-power-bi-preview.aspx

o Workshops, Webcasts, and Tech Talks – March 2015

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/premier_developer/archive/2015/03/18/workshops-webcasts-and-tech-talks-march-2015.aspx

o [Webinar] Power BI for the BI Professional

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/09/webinar-power-bi-for-the-bi-professional.aspx

o Virtual Event: A Look Ahead: Security & the Cloud

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2015/03/13/virtual-event-a-look-ahead-security-amp-the-cloud.aspx

o VSO/TFS Team Collaboration is Key to Quality

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/jasonsingh/archive/2015/03/06/starting-out-on-testing-on-microsoft-we-have-the-best-story-on-the-planet.aspx

o [Webinar] Getting Started with the Power BI Designer

§ https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/03/18/webinar-getting-started-with-the-power-bi-designer.aspx

o Microsoft Big Data Hackathon Resources

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/cansql/archive/2015/03/12/microsoft-big-data-hackathon-resources.aspx

o Free Webinar : Building Predictive Models with Large Datasets

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/machinelearning/archive/2015/03/30/free-webinar-tomorrow-building-predictive-models-with-large-datasets.aspx?linkId=13224388

o TechNet Radio: Data in the Cloud (Part 4) – SQL Server on a VM or Azure SQL Database?

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2015/03/26/technet-radio-data-in-the-cloud-part-4-sql-server-on-a-vm-or-azure-sql-database.aspx

o What’s Next with Windows 10 Webcast

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/mackblog/archive/2015/03/06/what-s-next-with-windows-10-webcast-on-3-12.aspx

o Windows 10 Learning Series for Partners

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/uspartner_learning/archive/2015/03/10/windows-10-learning-series-for-partners.aspx

o [Webcast Video] : What is new in PDW 2012

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/meagbs/archive/2015/03/28/webcast-video-what-is-new-in-pdw-2012.aspx

o Free Webinar: An Overview of the New Capabilities in Azure Machine Learning

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/machinelearning/archive/2015/03/02/free-webinar-an-overview-of-the-new-capabilities-in-azure-machine-learning.aspx

o World Hosting Day 2015 Presentation: PowerShell - let's talk about automation

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/bernhard_frank/archive/2015/03/26/world-hosting-day-2015-presentation-powershell-let-39-s-talk-about-automation.aspx

o Azure in 5 Minutes: Configuring Azure Backup

§ https://blogs.technet.com/b/uspartner_ts2team/archive/2015/03/26/azure-in-5-minutes-configuring-azure-backup.aspx

Monthly Script Tips

· W8 Script Sample Videos

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/02/the-first-batch-of-script-sample-videos.aspx

· Running Windows Core: How-to find volume size & free space

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/chad/archive/2015/03/27/running-windows-core-how-to-find-volume-size-amp-free-space.aspx

· PowerShell Gotcha -- ForEach-Object and "Continue"

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/msftcam/archive/2015/03/17/powershell-gotcha-looping-with-continue-break-return.aspx

· Detect SQL Server (Express) Existence Programmatically

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/zxue/archive/2015/03/11/detect-sql-server-express-existence-programmatically.aspx

· Using DSC to download from Azure file storage to an Azure VM

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/brian_farnhill/archive/2015/03/16/using-dsc-to-download-from-azure-file-storage-to-an-azure-vm.aspx

· Apply Row-Level Security to all tables -- helper script

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlsecurity/archive/2015/03/31/apply-row-level-security-to-all-tables-helper-script.aspx

· Row-Level Security: Blocking unauthorized INSERTs

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlsecurity/archive/2015/03/23/row-level-security-blocking-unauthorized-inserts.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 10] How to get the backup history of databases in SQL Server

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/10/script-of-mar-10-how-to-get-the-backup-history-of-databases-in-sql-server.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 12] How to combine multiple rows into one cell in a SQL Server table (T-SQL)

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/12/script-of-mar-12-how-to-combine-multiple-rows-into-one-cell-in-a-sql-server-table-t-sql.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 17] How to get the table row count for all tables in a SQL Server database (T-SQL)

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/17/script-of-mar-17-how-to-get-the-table-row-count-for-all-tables-in-a-sql-server-database-t-sql.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 11] How to refresh updatable views in a SQL Server database

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/11/script-of-mar-11-how-to-refresh-updatable-views-in-a-sql-server-database.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 09] How to configure Power Options in Windows

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/09/script-of-mar-09-how-to-configure-power-options-in-windows.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 04] How to change Windows Explorer's(in taskbar) Starting Location

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/04/script-of-mar-04-how-to-change-windows-explorer-39-s-in-taskbar-starting-location.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 07] How to disable administrative shares on Windows 8.1 (PowerShell)

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/07/script-of-mar-07-how-to-disable-administrative-shares-on-windows-8-1-powershell.aspx

· [Script Of Mar. 19] How to Manage Permissions to Registry Keys in Windows

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/onescript/archive/2015/03/19/script-of-mar-19-how-to-manage-permissions-to-registry-keys-in-windows.aspx

· How to Get Azure VM IP Addresses Using PowerShell

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/rmilne/archive/2015/03/13/how-to-get-azure-vm-ip-addresses-using-powershell.aspx

Issue Alert

· Critical issue in SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 that could crash your SQL server

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/axinthefield/archive/2013/10/31/sql-server-2012-service-pack-1-issue-that-could-crash-your-server.aspx

· Critical: Do NOT delete files from the Windows Installer folder. C:\windows\Installer is not a temporary folder and files in it should not be deleted. If you do it on machines on which you have SQL Server installed you may have to rebuild the operating system and reinstall SQL Server.

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlserverfaq/archive/2013/04/30/do-not-delete-files-from-the-windows-installer-folder.aspx

· Important: You must precede all Unicode strings with a prefix N when you deal with Unicode string constants in SQL Server

o https://support.microsoft.com/kb/239530

· Run the "PowerPivot Configuration Tool" after Upgrading the Analysis Services POWERPIVOT Instance.

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/excel_services__powerpivot_for_sharepoint_support_blog/archive/2015/03/12/run-the-quot-powerpivot-configuration-tool-quot-after-upgrading-analysis-services-powerpivot-instance.aspx

· FIX: Performance issue occurs when you use sqlncli11.dll ODBC driver to access SQL Server in an application

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3041859

· Error 3989 or 3988 when a distributed query that joins multiple tables is hosted by remote instances of SQL Server

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3049257

· FIX: Error 4360 when you restore the backup of secondary replica to another server in AlwaysOn Availability Groups

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3038943

· FIX: Memory consumption increases quickly and surpasses HardMemoryLimit when you run a query in Many-To-Many dimension

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3029776

· FIX: Error occurs and the execution hangs when you run an SSIS package that connects to Flat File Source

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3033041

· FIX: The notification email link is broken when a special character is part of the URL in SQL Server 2012 MDS

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3036201

· FIX: Memory leak in USERSTORE_SCHEMAMGR and CPU spikes occur when you use temp table in SQL Server 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3032476

· FIX: "Parameter type cannot be deduced" when you execute sp_describe_undeclared_parameters in SQL Server 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3039035

· FIX: Rollback recovery on a snapshot fails when you run DBCC CHECKDB and then SQL Server 2012 shuts down unexpectedly

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3044958

· FIX: A tablix data region is rendered as corrupted in SSRS in Cumulative Update 3 for SQL Server 2012 SP2

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3041056

· FIX: Query that contains subscription parameters is fired multiple times when you create a new subscription in SSRS 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3038331

· FIX: MDX query returns incorrect results when you run it with subselect after an UPDATE CUBE statement in SSAS 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3042077

· FIX: Access violation and "No exceptions should be raised by this code" error occur when you use SQL Server 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3042135

· FIX: "Access Denied" error occurs when you run an XML validation task in SSIS 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3040804

· A SQL Server that is running in a Hyper-V virtual machine takes a long time to restore a database to a dynamic VHD

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2970653

· "Login failed for user" error message when you log on to SQL Server

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/kb/555332

· FIX: "Call to Excel Services returned an error" error when you refresh the document in the PowerPivot Gallery

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3034492

· Potential causes of the "SQL Server does not exist or access denied" error message

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/328306

· FIX: High CPU usage after you use DTExec utility to process SSAS 2012 data mining models

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3023629

· FIX: ISServerExec crashes when you execute an SSIS package that contains another set of child SSIS packages in SSIS 2012

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020350

· FIX: Error "[BC30494] line is too long" occurs when you upload an SSRS 2012 report to Reporting Services Report Manager

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3038267

· How to restore the missing Windows Installer cache files and resolve problems that occur during a SQL Server update

o https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/969052

· SQL Server Always On Not Synchronizing after installing cumulative updates

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/axinthefield/archive/2015/03/20/sql-server-always-on-not-synchronizing-after-installing-cumulative-updates.aspx

o AlwaysOn availability groups may be reported as NOT SYNCHRONIZING after you apply SQL Server 2014 CU5, SQL Server 2012 SP2 CU4, or SQL Server 2012 SP2 CU3

§ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3033492

· Strange error when using Start-CopyAzureStorageBlob

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/bonniefe/archive/2015/03/26/strange-error-when-using-start-copyazurestorageblob.aspx

· Microsoft SQL Server 2012 RS Add-In for SharePoint fails to install.

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/spike/archive/2015/03/03/microsoft-sql-server-2012-rs-add-in-for-sharepoint-fails-to-install.aspx

· Upgrading to SQL 2014: Report Server version mismatch

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_server_team/archive/2015/03/20/upgrading-to-sql-2014-report-server-version-mismatch.aspx

· Performance issue while using linked server

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/performance_issue_while_using_linked_server/archive/2015/03/09/performance-issue-while-using-linked-server.aspx

· Replication Agent fails with “unable to start correctly”

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/repltalk/archive/2015/03/10/repltalk-repltip-replication-agent-fails-with-unable-to-start-correctly.aspx

· AlwaysOn Availability Group Listener Cannot be Created or Failed Over on Node if 'Primary DNS suffix' is not set

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/alwaysonpro/archive/2015/03/16/alwayson-availability-group-listener-cannot-be-created-on-node-if-primary-dns-suffix-is-not-set.aspx

· How to fix SQL 2008 R2 Replication objects not being created on Subscriber

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/repltalk/archive/2015/03/08/how-to-fix-sql-2008-r2-replication-objects-not-being-created-on-subscriber.aspx

· Only one Log Reader can connect message when dropping a Publication

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/repltalk/archive/2015/03/04/repltalk-quicktip-only-one-log-reader-can-connect-message-when-dropping-a-publication.aspx

· Release Management – Exception with DACPAC deploy tool

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/tfssetup/archive/2015/03/26/release-management-exception-with-dacpac-deploy-tool.aspx

 

Fany Carolina Vargas | SQL Dedicated Premier Field Engineer | Microsoft Services