SQL Azure CTP SSMS connection

To connect to Azure with SSMS:
1. Launch the SSMS 2008
2. When you are prompted for connection, click CANCEL
Otherwise you would go the following message

----
Cannot connect to SERVERNAME.ctp.database.windows.net
----
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
-->Invalid object name ’sys.configurations’. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 208)




3. Click on NEW QUERY
https://sql.azure.com/


4. Login to the database with detail provided during activation at



a. Server name: SERVERNAME.ctp.database.windows.net
b. Authentication: SQL Server Authentication
c. login: LOGIN@SERVERNAME
d. password
e. DB: if you created a DB, select it under option ->connection properties first.
Since the USE DB_NAME doesn't works...

5. you may just ignore this warning



6. Finish!

Excel 2010 and SQL2008 R2 Gemini

A screenshot from SQL 2008 R2 Preview

Nice to to see Gemini in SQL08 R2.

So what is Gemini? you may refer it as an upgrade on Analysis Service.

Gemini can handle a large amount of data and relationship in a "lighting" speed.

Anyway, from the points that the add-in is provided for Excel 2010 instead of Excel 2007,

we should see a much more efficient operation with Excel 2010