Microsoft just released a new CTP version of the SQL Server Management Pack 6.7.3, that includes new bug fixes and some new features specific to SQL Server 2016. Let’s download updated MP package and review what’s new together! SQL Server 2005/2008/2008 R2/2012 MP Features and Fixes The most important update that matters for all enterprise customers is removing monitoring for SQL Server 2005 from the SQL Server Management Pack package. If you already imported older versions of the SQL MP into your SCOM management group, you still can monitor your SQL 2005 deployments, but SQL2005 MP is removed from SQL MP package and it’s not supported anymore. Please, keep this fact in mind: it might be a good reason to migrate your SQL2005 databases to a newer version (at least SQL2008 or 2008R2). Other updates in SQL2008-2012 monitoring are mostly about bug fixes and small improvements:

• Added support for databases stored on SMB Shares
• Blocking Sessions monitor has some fixes in error logging
• CPU Usage monitor & rule now work for SQL Server cluster instance correctly
• Fixed issue: connection to an SQL Server instance was not closing when the destination was wrong
• Fixed Non-Readable Replica detection (Always On)
• DB User Policy event-based discovery: management group name added to condition detection
• Script Failed alerting rule: management group name added to condition detection

New SQL Server 2014/2016 MP Features and Fixes

• Memory-Optimized Data Garbage Collection Fill Factor monitor and rule are disabled by default
• Memory-Optimized Data workflows are disabled by default for all SQL Server instances, except for Developer, Enterprise, and Evaluation editions
• CPU Usage monitor & rule now work for SQL Server cluster instance correctly
• Fixed issue: connection to an SQL Server instance was not closing when the destination was wrong
• Fixed issue: in some cases, Set Database Online/Offline tasks did not work for databases of SQL Server 2016 cluster instance
• DB User Policy event-based discovery: management group name added to condition detection
• Script Failed alerting rule: management group name added to condition detection

As you can see, this CTP update has some valuable fixes that make it worth to download and try on your environment. VIAcode team and SQL Server team at Microsoft looking forward hearing your early feedback and ideas about new SQL MP release. Send your feedback to SQLMPsfeedback@microsoft.com or share it with us on the VIAcode Facebook page.