New SQL Server Community Tech Preview Management Packs Released!

This week Microsoft released a Community Technology Preview 1 of SQL Server Management Packs (MPs) for System Center Operations Manager (SCOM). Microsoft is making improvements in the SQL Server Management Packs release process and announced introduction of the public CTP model. Microsoft creates a new download center page that will host all CTP bits. It is a good chance for community to try out changes in the MP and provide feedback that will be considered for the RTM version. Now you can send your feedback directly to SQLMPsfeedback@microsoft.com. The following Management Packs are now available:

New! Microsoft System Center Management Pack for SQL Server Analysis Services 2016 CTP 3.3 (6.6.7.6)
New! Microsoft System Center Management Pack for SQL Server Reporting Services 2016 CTP 3.3 (6.6.7.6)
Microsoft System Center Management Pack (CTP1) for SQL Server 2005-2012 (6.6.7.6)
Microsoft System Center Management Pack (CTP1) for SQL Server 2014 (6.6.7.6)
New! Microsoft System Center Management Pack for SQL Server 2016 CTP 3.3 (6.6.7.6)

The new features and fixes introduced in CTP1 management packs: New Analysis Services 2016 MP Features and Fixes (comparing to 2014 level of functionality)

Updated references and removed deprecated elements to support 6.6.4.0+ visualization library
Fixed bug when SSAS Monitoring Pack could not collect OS performance counters with localized names
Updated discoveries to throw errors in case of some problems detected during the discovery
Fixed module error collection on cluster instances to reduce the noise
Changed defaults for CPU Usage monitor, added sampling to Memory Usage on the server monitor
Reduced inner complexity of modules
Fixed the discoveries; now the last items can be undiscovered
Simplified the dashboard to make it quicker and more informative
Reviewed and updated the Knowledge Bases
Added timeout support for every non-native workflow
Fixed Blocking Session Monitor – in some situations it could calculate blocking sessions incorrectly
Win10 support: fixed OS version detection issue
Fixed CPU usage alert description
Known Issues and Troubleshooting” section of the guide is updated

New Reporting Services 2016 MP Features and Fixes (comparing to 2014 level of functionality)

Fixed issue: Microsoft System Center Management Pack for SQL Server Reporting Services doesn’t discover SSRS instance when the instance name starts from some certain symbols (0-9, A-F)
Instance configuration monitor is introduced
Implemented an improved logging system
Improved the Report Manager availability monitor: now it parses human readable message to get the real status of the Report Manager
Improved the Report Manager and Web Service availability monitors: now the user can treat some status codes as healthy via the override.
Fixed the discoveries, now the last items can be undiscovered
Added timeout support for every non-native workflow
Simplified the dashboard to make it quicker and more informative
Reviewed and updated the Knowledge Base articles
Improved Run As mappings
Updated the discoveries to throw errors in case of some problems detected during the discovery
Updated the references and removed deprecated elements to support 6.6.4.0+ visualization library
Changed the performance rules write actions accounts to “Default Action account”
“Known Issues and Release Notes” section of the guide is updated
Fixed “Memory consumed by other processes (%)” rule having no Run As profile for DS; added SQL MP default Run As to the data source
Fixed “Failing replacement: $Data/Context/Property[@Name='<MonitorName>’]$” issue in OM log

New SQL Server 2005-2012 MP Features and Fixes:

Fixed intermittent “Cannot login to database” alert with some rules
Added support for SQL Express Instances
Updated Knowledge Base articles
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 x86 on Windows 2008 R2: fixed the issue when DB file groups cannot be discovered
Win10 support: fixed “Cannot bind argument to parameter ‘Path’ because it is an empty string.” issue
Fixed issue when SQL Configuration Manager starts snap-in of wrong version
Fixed invalid Always On non-readable replica detection

New SQL Server 2014-2016 MP Features and Fixes:

Fixed intermittent “Cannot login to database” alert with some rules
Fixed display string for AgentsGroup.Discovery
Added support of SQL Server Express Instances
Always On issue: Events “967” are no longer fired for File Group and Files discoveries when server has a non-readable DB
DB Discovery issue fixed: masterDB is to be used if the target is inaccessible
DBSize issue: filter < 0 values in provider, return data for fileSize
Win10 support: fixed “Cannot bind argument to parameter ‘Path’ because it is an empty string.” issue
Agent Job Discovery is now disabled by default
Fixed issue when SQL Configuration Manager starts snap-in of wrong version
Fixed invalid Always On non-readable replica detection
Updated summary dashboards

Stay tuned for VIAcode posts on performance optimizations, dashboard improvements and review of other new features. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!