SQL Server 2022 community technology preview 2.1 is now available

Continuing with our release cadence, we’re excited to announce the release of SQL Server 2022 Community Technology Preview 2.1. Since the first public preview in May 2022, anyone can download SQL Server 2022 CTP2.1 to try the new features in this release.

SQL Server 2022 is the most Azure-enabled release of SQL Server yet, with continued innovation across performance, security, and availability. It is part of the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform, which unifies operational databases, analytics, and data governance.  

CTP 2.1 brings the following new features and capabilities to SQL Server 2022:

• Analytics
  • Object storage integration (Data Lake Virtualization) - updated location for S3-compliant object storage certificate for SQL Server on Linux.
  • Data virtualization:
    • SQL Server 2022 (16.x) supports CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE AS SELECT, which allows SQL Server to create an external table and, in parallel, export data to a different location.
    • Delta table format support for Polybase. Allowing SQL Server to leverage delta table format for OPENROWSET, CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE and CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE AS SELECT operations.
• Performance
• Query Store enabled by default for new databases
• Parameter sensitive plan optimization - Supportability
• Degree of parallelism (DOP) feedback - Supportability
• Management
  • Manage Azure Arc agent with SQL Server Configuration Manager
  • Attach to Azure from setup - enabling Arc extension for SQL Server is now an opt-in feature
  • Snapshot backups
• Security
  • Automation process to set up Azure AD administrator for SQL Server
  • Ledger - automatic digest upload to Azure Storage
  • 3 additional fixed server-level roles added
• Language
  • APPROX_PERCENTILE_DISC()
  • APPROX_PERCENTILE_CONT()
  • DATETRUNC()
  • IS [NOT] DISTINCT FROM
  • Bit manipulation functions:
    • LEFT_SHIFT()
    • RIGHT_SHIFT()
    • BIT_COUNT()
    • GET_BIT()
    • SET_BIT()

Learn more

• Read how you can innovate faster and achieve greater agility with the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform and turn your data into decisions.
• Get started today by downloading the preview or deploying in Azure!
• For installing SQL Server 2022 public preview on Linux, see installation guidance.
• Learn more about the features of SQL Server 2022 by reading the documentation and watching the SQL Server 2022 Data Exposed video series.
• Dive into the technical details including installation guidance and stay up to date with the latest release notes.
• Let us know if you have any thoughts or feedback through our SQL Server feedback portal. We look forward to seeing how SQL Server 2022 will transform your business in the coming months and years.