Microsoft this week is giving developers a premature preview at SQL Server 2008 R2, the next making of its flagship database.

MSDN as well as TechNet subscribers got former dibs on Monday; the group of people technology preview (CTP) will be usually accessible on Wednesday, Microsoft alleged.

SQL Server 2008 R2 will facilitate DBAs manage large-scale deployments as well as support self-service BI (business intelligence), in which end-users make their personal queries as well as reports with less involvement needed from IT staff, according to Microsoft.

"New wizards allow administrators to rapidly install a multi-server running situation in minutes -- no specialized services necessary," Microsoft promised in a certified blog post. DBAs will add an array of capabilities for tracking their systems' source procedure along with handling upgrades.

Meanwhile, a latest version of Report Builder integrates support for mapping statistics along with "benefits power users that are looking for an extra complicated authoring environment," the blog adds.

Generally, Microsoft is demanding to move forward BI capabilities -- long the prefecture of only several users due to the software's high cost -- to the masses, by tying them to its extensively used SharePoint collaboration platform along with esteemed Excel spreadsheet.

An inadequate preview of "Project Gemini," which permits users to execute data analysis from in an Excel environment, will be obtainable this year.

The corporation is also getting ready to launch a personal technology preview of "Madison," its future data warehousing application, which integrates technology Microsoft gained from its acquirement of DATAllegro previous year.