SQL Server 2022

It's been almost a year since I blogged about anything so it's probably about time that I blew the dust off the keyboard and got back into action!

In the tech world a lot has been happening whilst I've been away and in the world of SQL Server the biggest "thing" has certainly been the release of the very latest version, SQL Server 2022. So let me get straight to the point, in my very humble opinion, it's also the most underwhelming release of SQL Server that I've ever known.

If I think about my favourite version (because we've all got one...don't we?!!?) then SQL Server 2016 gets my vote, that and 2005. In between those two we've had other releases and new features etc but those definitely stick out and let's be real, SP1 for 2016 meant those standard users amongst us got to use some fun stuff at long last without forking out for Enterprise licences!

For more recent releases starting with SQL Server 2017 we had the whole Microsoft loves Linux fanfare and being the "platform of choice". Yes there were other things too like machine learning, adaptive query processing (which I do like the idea of) and, er, resumable online index rebuilds but this release was all about the idea of the platform. 

And then 2019 came along with the vision for the Modern Data Platform and using the word BIG at every opportunity. Speaking of which Microsoft also bet BIG on Kubernetes with the introduction of the aptly named Big Data Clusters, which were subsequently canned, so much for quenching our thirst:

"Our mission is to accelerate, delight, and empower our users as they quench their thirst for data driven insights. The Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Big Data Clusters add-on will be retired. Support for SQL Server 2019 Big Data Clusters will end on February 28, 2025."

At least TDE came to standard edition at long last!

Anyway it seems to me that 2022 was a play it safe kind of release. There's no super bold moves, nothing to get really thirsty about anyway and whilst I have to admit I did roll my eyes at the whole "most Azure enabled release" tagline there's some handy features in there like the Managed Instance link. Sadly it isn't ready yet for any bi-directional replication (and with that Disaster Recovery capabilities) and it's still stuck in Public Preview!

Was it a rushed release? Undoubtedly, and unfortunately there's problems further down the Cumulative Update conga line as well which Brent has recently blogged about: Breaking News: SQL Server 2022 Keeps Getting Worse. - Brent Ozar Unlimited®

Urgh.

Now I should point something out. When I said SQL Server 2022 is an underwhelming release that isn't necessarily a bad thing, particularly when you look at the whole big data clusters [bad] idea and I for one will certainly take an underwhelming release any day of the week as long as it works. But I can't help but agree with Brent's article title that as of right now, it's a release that is seemingly getting worse, and that is what really disappoints.

But let's not end on a sour note because I do like SQL Server 2022, or at least if I put aside current issues, the idea of it. 

Cynical eye rolls aside I actually like the approach of SQL Server being more Azure enabled. Although it has limitations the Synapse link looks interesting, although tbh I am not a Synapse user so can't comment too much, although I did chuckle that enabling Azure Synapse Link and Link to Managed Instance isn't supported on the same database (but I can see why that's the case). 

To me it's like Microsoft are going back to building on the strengths of SQL Server and leveraging some of the benefits of Azure at the same time and that's not a bad thing, at least, when it's all ready that will hopefully be the case.