MICROSOFT ON MONDAY announced availability of SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3, featuring a monitoring API and enhanced error reporting for Microsoft's server database.

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A highlight of the service pack is a new monitoring API allowing DBAs or third-party tools, such as Precise/In-depth for SQL Server, to diagnose problem processes, according to the company.

"There are third-party tools to do monitoring and we wanted to make it easier to get the information to those tools," said Sheryl Tullis, Microsoft product manager for SQL Server.

Also featured in the service pack is an error reporting function enabling Microsoft to be automatically notified about critical errors. Multi-server administration also is improved. This function enables centralization of maintenance tasks for several servers onto a single server.

Database performance is boosted through use of Virtual Interface (VI) technology in the SQL Server networking layer, to reduce CPU consumption per message on the server and client systems, according to Microsoft. Also to boost performance, support is provided for QLogic's VI-enabled SAN QLA2350 Fibre Channel controller.

Security is enhanced through provision of an updated version of Books Online, enabling customers to have more guidance on security through online documentation.

Patches are provided for known vulnerabilities reported by users or discovered through testing. In addition, SQL Server Agent, for scheduling routine tasks such as backups and restores, can now be run as a non-administrator fashion.

"It allows you to maintain your own database" within the SQL Server system, Tullis said.

Customers can download the service pack at www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2000/sp3.asp.