Configure Windows Firewall for SQL Server 2008 Database Engine in Windows Server 2008 R2

I have installed SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition on Windows Server 2008 R2 and I am unable to get connect to SQL Server 2008 Instance from SQL Server 2008 Management Studio which is installed on another remote server. As I am new to Windows Server 2008 R2 it would be great if you can let me know the step by step approach to enable the default port of SQL Server 2008 in Windows Firewall for user connectivity.

TSQL Challenge 26 - Identify weekly schedule of training programs by course, classroom and timing

Here is another scheduling problem that deals with the allotment of classrooms for various training programs. Your chalenge is to read the source data and build an output result set that shows the weekly schedule of each training topic and the class room in which training is scheduled.

Finding Training

This Friday's poll looks at training where Steve Jones asks how you might convince your boss to pay for training, or what advice you'd give to others.

SQL Server 2008 T-SQL Enhancements Part - III

Continuing with his series on T-SQL enhancements in SQL Server 2008, Arshad Ali brings us a look at the HierarchyID and Large UDTs.

Microsoft SQL Server identify I/O bottlenecks

You can also identify I/O bottlenecks by examining the latch waits. These latch waits account for the physical I/O waits...

SSIS Packages - the Simplest Way to Create Them

Martin Policht delves deeper into the specifics of SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2's Integration Services by presenting the most straightforward method of creating SSIS packages using Import and Export Wizard.

Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

This is probably part 1 of a series, but no guarantees.

Why Certify?
I've been working with SQL Server for 10 years...

Should We Lead or Follow?

Microsoft used to lead the way and teach us about their products. But it seems that perhaps the tide is turning and they are looking for us to lead them. Steve Jones has a few thoughts on the topic.

XML Workshop 25 - Inserting elements and attributes to an XML document

This article from MVP Jacob Sebastian looks at the modify method for changing an XML document.

Leaving a SQL Server DBA Job Gracefully

You’re leaving your current employer for a new opportunity and want to make the move as smooth as possible. You don’t want to burn your bridges and want to make sure that everything you’ve left behind can be managed by the people you’ve left behind or the DBA who is replacing you. So, you’ve done your handover documentation and trained up the new guy. You definitely don’t want to be that DBA who is cursed the week after they leave when their network account is disabled and a bunch of stuff ‘breaks’.