SQL Server 2016 Features – Stretch Database

Stretch Database is a new feature in SQL Server 2016 that will allow to migrate old data from on-premises to Microsoft Azure and still provide the ability to access the data without making any query changes. Stretch Database provides the advantage of the lower costs of Azure Database and reduces the need to buy hardware and storage to support on-premise data archiving. Enterprise Storage is not always cheap.
Stretch Database is ideal for entire tables or part of a table. e.g. Orders that are older than a certain date or Customers who haven't made any orders for more than a year etc.
Stretch Database transfers data securely using Always Encrypted, so data is encrypted as it is being transferred from on-premises to Azure.
Note: Stretch Database only works between an on-premises SQL Server Database and Azure SQL Database, and cannot be used from one local SQL Server database to another.
Limitations of Stretch Database
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Technorati Tags: SQL 2016,Stretch Database,Azure SQL Database

Continuous Integration vs Continuous Delivery vs Continuous Deployment

Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice where developers are required to integrate their code to shared repository several times a day. Each time when the code is checked in, it is verified using an automated build so failures can be detected early, notified and fixed.
Continuous Delivery is a series of practices designed to ensure that code can be rapidly and safely deployed to production by delivering every change to a production-like environment and ensuring business applications and services function as expected through rigorous automated testing. Since every change is delivered to a staging environment using complete automation, you can have confidence the application can be deployed to production with a push of a button when the business is ready.
Continuous Deployment is the next step of continuous delivery: Every change that passes the automated tests is deployed to production automatically. Continuous deployment should be the goal of most companies that are not constrained by regulatory or other requirements.

Reference: Image from puppet.com website

Technorati Tags: Continuous Integration,Continuous Delivery,Continuous Deployment

SQL Server Reporting Services 2016

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) 2016 is an on-premises solution for deploying and managing reports.

SSRS 2016 supports

• Paginated Reports - Design beautiful reports using updated tools and new features built on HTML5 technology.
• Mobile Reports - Create responsive, interactive reports optimised for mobile devices.
• New Web Portal - Consume both type of reports in one web portal using modern browsers.

Paginated Reports

• Modern chart and gauge styles
• Treemap and Sunburst charts
• Updated Report Builder look and feel
• Visual Studio 2015 support
• Plugin free printing

Customisable Parameter Layouts

• Position Parameters across more than 2 columns
• Choose position for each parameter
• Create space between groups of parameter

Pin Report Items to PowerBI Dashboards

• Monitor most important metrics and trends in one place using KPIs
• Pin charts, gauges, maps and images as tiles to Power BI Dashboards
• Drill through to source reports
• Refresh tiles on a schedule

Create Interactive Mobile Reports

• Drag-and-drop to create beautiful, interactive data visualisations
• Prototype in minutes with simulated data
• Access enterprise data sources by connecting to Reporting Services
• Customize layouts for different form factors

Consuming Mobile Reports

• One mobile app for Power BI and Reporting Services Mobile Reports
• Native mobile experience optimised for touch
• Keep data up-to-date with real-time query or scheduled data refresh
• Interact with mobile reports even when disconnected

Technorati Tags: SSRS,SSRS2016,PowerBI

API vs. Webhook vs. SignalR

APIs (Application Programming Interface) are sets of requirements that govern how one application can talk to another. The API specifies the way in which these different software components can interact with each other and enables content and data to be shared between components.

Webhook also referred as “Reverse APIs” is a way for an application to provide other applications with real time information. With APIs, there is always a request followed by a response. No request is required for a Webhook, it just sends the data when it is available. Webhook doesn't require to hold open a network connection while waiting for events.

SignalR is a library for ASP.NET developers that simplifies the process of adding real-time web functionality to applications. SignalR exchange event notifications through WebSockets, however it requires an open network connection.

Technorati Tags: API,Webhook,SignalR

Dot in URL in ASP.NET MVC causes 404 error

URLs with dot (.) generate a 404 error. This happens irrespective of whether scaffolding is used or not.

Solution

This can be fixed by enabling RAMMFAR (runAllManagedModulesForAllRequests). The RAMMFAR setting is for per application. Enabling this option will enable all managed modules for all requests. That means static files such as images, PDFs and everything else will be processed by .NET

A smart solution is to add a new HTTP handler that looks for specific path criteria.

Add the following to the site's web.config within the and element