It’s that time of the year. No, I’m not talking about christmas, I’m talking about new product cycles from Microsoft. For SQL Server it usually happens on even years, it’s 2016 so this year we have a new SQL Version. And if you need to manage any new server, you need the most current SQL Server Management Studio too.
This post is about SSMS, not the features of SQL 2016 (wich are awesome, but will be posted separately). This is the first time we get a dedicated product portal for SSMS, take a look at: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt238290.aspx . This version is really great, and the portal is updated with new versions frequently. It’s the first time I feel comfortable using a newer version to manage all my servers (running several old versions of SQL Server).
Anyway I always give a direct link to the english version (the only one you should ever consider, if you work with IT), so here it goes: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=832812&clcid=0x409
Also, this is the first time that SQL Server Data Tools (version 2015) are able to create SSIS packages with backwards compatibility (down to 2012 version), so you should download and use this version too: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt204009.aspx . Again, here is the direct link to the english version: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=832313&clcid=0x409
Tip: to create SSIS packages for older versions of Integration Services: create a new project, go to Project, open Properties, select Configuration Properties, then General. Change the TargetServerVersion property for this particular Project, and you’re ready! You can do this for each Project, and develop with no mess for various versions of the SSIS engine.
Cya!
The Lonely DBA 