In either Yukon or a future release, Watters wants to see some additional enhancements, as well. "I'd like reporting of processes within SQL Server to be built into the UI with graphs and charts included, without having to come up with my own. Now Reporting Services is going to be built into SQL Server, along with Notification Services. Multitudes of performance-related virtual tables are being made available in the engine. So, there's no reason this shouldn't be a standard feature of SQL Server," according to the DBA.
"Another enhancement I'd like to see is the ability to use multiple processors and compression when doing backups," he adds.
Also on Watters' wish list are improvements to Microsoft's hot fixes and service packs. "I can't afford the downtime that is needed to apply all of the hot fixes and service packs that are created every month," Watters urges.
"Service packs often require a reboot and tons of testing before I can get them into production. I'd like to be able to rely on the fact that nothing will breakand I don't want to have to reboot the server just to install a pack that updates a service!"
Every beta user has different requirements. If the final edition of SQL 2003 is enough like Yukon, the product will meet mostif not allof Watters' immediate needs. Yet evidently it's still too early to tell which capabilities will survive the beta.