December CTP - SQL Server 2005 (various flavors)

Various different versions of SQL Server 2005 are now available for download to MSDN subscribers at http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/.  This is a CTP (Community Technical Preview) which means that it is essentially a snapshot of the build on a particular day and it does not undergo the same level of testing (or support) of a Beta version.   It includes both 32- and 64-bit versions, as well as a new version of SQL Server Express (replaces MSDE).

The December CTP also includes a working version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Manager.  This is one of the things that I/we have been waiting for.  It is the new, east-to-use database management tool that will be available for free and is meant to be used with SQL Server 2005 Express - we finally have a good, legal tool for managing the free version of SQL Server. 

Unfortunately, if you want to use SQL Server 2005 Express (SSE) with Visual Studio 2005, you still need to stick with SSE Beta 2 and the VS2005 Beta 1 Refresh.  This is due to the fact that only these versions are synched up enough and use the identical build of the .NET Framework.

Important: If you are installing any of the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 products (such as Microsoft Visual C++, Microsoft Visual C#, Microsoft Visual J#, Microsoft Visual Basic, or Microsoft Visual Web Developer Express edition), make sure you install only the version of SQL Server Express Edition that is included as part of the Visual Studio 2005 setup. Do not use the December CTP release of SQL Server Express Edition in an environment that contains Visual Studio 2005. This December CTP release of SQL Server Express Edition is intended only for users of the stand-alone release of SQL Server Express Edition.