Now that SQL Server 2008 R2 has gone gold, finally more details about the different versions are becoming available about the different edtions, which makes it easier to determine which version one requires. It seem geographical maps are available in all version. Shared components, however, are available from the Standard edition onward. I’m still sifting through posts with information on what has changed (apart from the obvious). One thing is for sure, to Integration Services there really have not been that many features added.

All my server's info in the background image.

It’s this tiny little program that does the trick. Simply place the executable somewhere on your system and start it. Once your satisfied with the result, simply Apply and Exit. If the information is prone to change, use the command-line options in combination with the Startup folder. Alternatively, if you want to use the same background for several servers, just Save As… and copy the .bgi file. You can then add a shortcut to the Startup folder with the following command

C:\bginfo.exe C:\bginfo.bgi /timer:0

to have the information displayed and refreshed at startup without a dialog box being presented (assuming the executable and configuration file are placed in the root of the C: drive.

I haven’t had time yet to fully read the document. From what I’ve heard about it, it should add some long awaited features to Web Intelligence, like being able to use the result of one query as a condition on another (query on query). The What’s New document should give more insight into that. Personally I hope that with this service pack we’ll see a more stable product, with 3.0 being quite the opposite and 3.1 a step closer to a production quality product. In my opinion XI 3.0 was rushed to the market, because of the acquisition by SAP. This service pack will give us a good idea what future releases will hold in store in terms of stability and what the impact of SAP’s acquisition is in terms of internal processes like release management. Who knows I might even reconsider advising clients not to upgrade to a new release before a second service pack has been released (never stop dreaming).

I’m guessing that the release of SP2 for XI 3.1 is also good news for organisations and individuals using other products in the SAP BusinessObjects stack, like Crystal Reports and Xcelsius, as their service packs will be released around the same time.

I’m not sure whether the same holds true for other products of the stack, such as Web Intelligence, as well, but I wouldn’t put it past them. The same goes for blog posts, what if I publish a tutorial or something along those lines, will an SAP BusinessObjects sollicitor come knocking on my door? If you’re interested in the subject, do a search on Ken’s site to learn more about the subject.

8.4 Fix Pack 1 is a version of IBM Cognos 8 aimed at upgrading existing Cognos 8 customers. It includes updates to 8.4 BI Server, Metric, Go! Dashboard, Go! Search and Go! Mobile.

I feel fairly confident that I will pass the exam. I’ve been working with the new version for some time now and have done three migrations, one to 3.0 from 6.5 and two from R2 to 3.1. I must say that I like the new features that are sprinkled around the suite, not to mention quite a few usability enhancement. The CMC, for example, has had a much needed makeover and Web Intelligence has had some really useful enhancements, as well.

It’s not all joy, though. When I said that I’d been working with this version for some time now, I almost added at the expense of my customers, because it’s also still quite buggy (especially 3.0). This in combination with flaky support can be a cause for major headaches. It has definitely strengthened my belief that implementations should not be done in the field until the first Service Pack is out.

I was actually prompted to start typing this up because I was reading the following in one of the notes I’d made on auditing.

The auditing features in XI R3 bring the usage reporting capabilities into parity with the features in BusinessObjects Enterprise 5.x/6.x. This eliminates a significant roadblock for customers of 5.x/6.x to migrate to the XI platform.

Around four years ago XI was introduced as the successor of 6.5 and it has taken all this time to arrive where we started. Things have come full circle since then, but the question I guess, at least in my case, is why has it taken this long?