Microsoft has delayed the launch of its next generation of
SQL Server until the first half of 2005 to enable a third beta
release to be tested.
Users are unlikely to be able to buy the new database server until
the second quarter of 2005, according to analysts.
The delay to SQL Server 2005, formerly known as Yukon, will
frustrate Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and Software Assurance
licence holders who may miss out on a free upgrade as a
result.
Microsoft said that despite the delay it has added value to
existing SQL Server licences by providing free downloadable add-on
software such as reporting services, notification services and XML
connector technology.
Mike Thompson, principal research analyst at Butler Group, said
this might not satisfy users. SQL Server 2000 was becoming
inefficient due to the fact that the core database engine had not
been modified. "It is a serious concern. Microsoft has not changed
the core. Add-ons create an overhead and cause database management
problems," he said.
Industry experts believe Microsoft is facing technical challenges
with the new release, as it tries to develop a database that not
only works within its Trustworthy Computing security initiative but
also embeds XML technology into the database. Microsoft is also
integrating SQL Server into the Longhorn release of Windows.
Thompson said, "I feel Microsoft has problems with XML and it is
hard to layer security when the database is tied to the operating
system."
Analyst firm Gartner said SQL Server 2005 was likely to be launched
without several promised features, such as clustering and hash
partitioning, which are available on rival products.
It recommended that enterprise users making purchasing and planning
decisions should consider SQL Server 2005 unproven for production
enterprise applications until early 2006, following at least two
product fix packs.
Tom Rizzo, director of product management for SQL Server at
Microsoft, said the delay was a result of Microsoft planning a
third beta release.
"As it is such a critical release, we are running a third beta
release in the second half of 2004," said Rizzo. A beta release in
the first half of 2004 will go out to 100,000 users and the third
beta will focus on a few core users, he added.
"We want to focus on quality and run the beta in a production
environment at 15 to 20 customer sites," he said.