SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM is Nearer

It was quite a surprise to see a forum post claiming the SQL Server 2008 R2 – Release Candidate 1, i first thought it was just a bogus information. Since so far i remember SQL 2008 R2 is still on November CTP.

But interestingly found that releaser claims it to be the SQL Server 2008 R2 – Release Candidate 1, the name of the release circulating around the internet was “Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 RC1-WinBeta”. So i wanted to verify this is really orginal release of some bogus/Fake downloads. So i started downloading from the So called releasers file sharing site.

Download went fine and i checked the setup. it was an ISO file with a size of 4.07GB

File Size: 4.07 GB

File Name : SQLFULL_ENU.iso

There was a release note file which stating that the release not was generated on

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM Release Notes 
02/11/2010 14:06:35

But the releaser already mentioned that even if the release notes states that it’s for RTM, the release is of Release Candidate -1.

So far everything looking cool. So i went over and install it.

Pretty nice installation like old times. But i could n’t see the Release Candiate / CTP notes any where while installing the software. Every setup steps were like FINAL release, i am bit confused. No mentioning of Release Candidate / CTP any where while installing.

Finished installing and i open up my Management Studio for checking the sql server version.

It seems to be Version 10.50.1450 , installed as a 180 day trial version. When i open up a query window, i found out that the STATUS bar on the bottom it has been displayed as 10.50 RTM.

So I believe this was a leaked version of SQL Server 2008 R2. Seems microsoft is planning a surprise party for us. They are doing some kinda internal testing, rather than releasing any Beta/RC versions to public. I remember only the publically available release as “SQL Server 2008 R2 – November CTP”. So microsoft was releasing some internal builds of BETA and RC for some private group of Testers only.

This leak states that SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM is nearer. Kudos Microsoft.

Good work for SQL Server Team Boys. Really good work guyz.

To Microsoft:

Dear Microsoft,  I downloaded the release of “Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 RC1-WinBeta”, to identify whether so claimed leaked release is fake or original. I intended to install it to validate the accuracy of the installation setup and information i found on the internet.

I no way supports piracy or supports such leaked releases. As an admirer of Microsoft technologies, i thrive to identify what is new in each release. So this article is intended only to share information or my findings on the internet.