Staying Up-to-Date with SQL Server: Deprecated and Discontinued Features

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Staying Up-to-Date with SQL Server: Deprecated and Discontinued Features

As with any evolving technology,  SQL Server is always evolving. Keeping track of what’s changing is crucial for developers and database admins to stay sharp and make informed decisions. Knowing which features are getting phased out or have already been discontinued helps you keep your SQL Server environment running smoothly.

What Are Deprecated and Discontinued Features?

Deprecated Features: These are features on their way out. They’re still functional for now, but using them in new projects isn’t advisable since they’ll eventually be removed.

Discontinued Features: These features are already gone in the latest versions of SQL Server. Keeping them around can cause issues with upgrades or migrations, especially to Azure SQL Database.

Recent Changes from SQL Server 2019 to SQL Server 2022

With the shift from SQL Server 2019 to SQL Server 2022, a few features were retired:

Deprecated Features:

  1. Distributed Replay
  2. Machine Learning Server
  3. Stretch Database

Discontinued Features:

  1. SQL Server Big Data Clusters
  2. SQL Server PolyBase Scale-Out Groups
  3. Installation of Machine Learning Services Packages

What These Features Did and Why They Were Removed

Distributed Replay

  • What It Did: Simulated production workloads on test environments to gauge the impact of changes like hardware upgrades.
  • Why It Was Removed: Newer tools offer better performance tuning. Azure Load Testing now provides a more scalable alternative.

Machine Learning Server

  • What It Did: Enabled running R and Python scripts within SQL Server, adding advanced analytics capabilities.
  • Why It Was Removed: Integration was complex and not widely adopted. Microsoft now recommends Azure Machine Learning for a more scalable and manageable machine learning workflow.

Stretch Database

  • What It Did: Extended SQL Server tables to Azure, making it easy to archive cold data while keeping it accessible.
  • Why It Was Removed: Management was often too complex and costly. Azure SQL Database Hyperscale offers a more efficient and cost-effective solution for large datasets.

SQL Server Big Data Clusters

  • What It Did: Allowed deployment of SQL Server, Spark, and HDFS containers on Kubernetes for big data integration and analysis.
  • Why It Was Removed: Limited adoption and high complexity led to its retirement. Azure Synapse Analytics now provides a unified platform with better management and integration.

SQL Server PolyBase Scale-Out Groups

  • What It Did: Distributed data processing across multiple nodes for efficient querying of external data sources.
  • Why It Was Removed: Improved single-node PolyBase performance reduced the need for scale-out groups. Enhanced PolyBase in SQL Server and Azure Synapse Analytics is the way forward.

Installation of Machine Learning Services Packages

  • What It Did: Allowed the installation of R and Python packages directly within SQL Server for running machine learning models.
  • Why It Was Removed: Integration was complex and less efficient compared to dedicated cloud-based services.

How to Identify Deprecated Features in Your SQL Server Instance

Tracking deprecated features is easier with SQL Server’s tools. Use this T-SQL query to list deprecated features and see how often they’re used in your instance:

“ SELECT object_name, counter_name, instance_name, cntr_value, cntr_type FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters WHERE object_name = ‘SQLServer:Deprecated Features’; ”

This query will return a list of over 250 deprecated features and their usage counts in your SQL Server instance. It’s a handy script to help identify and address deprecated feature use.
Deprecated

Why Staying Updated Matters

Keeping up with deprecated and discontinued features is crucial for several reasons:

  • Compatibility: Ensures your applications work with future SQL Server versions.
  • Performance: New features often bring performance improvements.
  • Security: New versions include enhanced security features.
  • Support: Staying current ensures you can get support from Microsoft if needed.


Final Thoughts

Keeping your SQL Server environment up-to-date is all about being proactive. Regularly check Microsoft documentation and use tools like the T-SQL script provided to stay on top of changes. By staying informed, you can keep your SQL Server instances efficient, secure, and future-proof. Adapting to changes ensures a robust and forward-compatible database environment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post!

 

 


BHARATH KUMAR S

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