Microsoft Enterprise Consortium
The Microsoft Enterprise Consortium is a joint program between the Department of Information Systems in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Walton College) and Microsoft Corporation (MS). The purpose of this joint program is provide to the academic community access to large and compelling real world datasets for both teaching and research. The datasets are to support business intelligence, data mining, database instruction, and data warehousing by university faculty and researchers.
The initial large live datasets include –
- Sam’s Club Sales Transactions Database with 6 tables and more than 55 million rows.
- Dillard’s Department Store Sales Database with 5 tables and more than 128 million rows.
- COPA Frozen Foods, Inc. Financials with 6 dimension tables linked to a fact table containing almost 12 million rows.
How can I join the Microsoft Enterprise Consortium?
A complete description of the Microsoft Enterprise Consortium and information for joining can be found at http://enterprise.waltoncollege.uark.edu/systems.asp?show=MEC and you can join the consortium at http://enterprise.waltoncollege.uark.edu/systems.asp?show=mecregistration.
Resources
Microsoft Faculty Connection - resource for technology news, customizable curriculum, free software downloads, and members-only community forums.
Microsoft Enterprise Consortium at the University of Arkansas – provides access to large, relevant, real-world datasets for teaching and research. You can join the consortium at http://enterprise.waltoncollege.uark.edu/systems.asp?show=mecregistration.
SQL Server Data Mining Site - a site designed by the SQL Server Data Mining team to provide the SQL Server community with access to and information about our exciting data mining features.
SQL Server Developer Center – development center for those interested in SQL Server development topics, reference material, training and news.
SQL Server 2008 Developer Center – SQL Server 2008 development center for those interested in SQL Server development topics, reference material, training and news
Database Starter Kits – seven interesting and useful database applications ready for use. One of the starter kits features a database application to track movies and music.
Next-generation Data Access: making the conceptual level real - Eliminate the impedance mismatch for both applications and data services like reporting, analysis, and replication offered as part of the SQL Server product by raising the level of abstraction from the logical (relational) level to the conceptual (entity) level.
The ADO.NET Entity Framework: Making the Conceptual Level Real, ACM Sigmod Record, Dec. 2006 - This paper describes the ADO.NET Entity Framework, a platform for programming against data that raises the level of abstraction from the logical (relational) level to the conceptual (entity) level, and thereby significantly reduces the impedance mismatch for applications and data services such as reporting, analysis, and replication.
Hosting the .NET Runtime in Microsoft SQL Server – article that details the implementation of .NET runtime with in Microsoft SQL Server.
Database Administrator’s Guide to SQL Server Database Engine .NET CLR Environment - This white paper also offers guidance about suitable uses for the Database Engine .NET Framework Programming API. It also suggests code, change, and release management processes that should be tailored to each DBA’s circumstances in order to ensure a professional and safe deployment.
Classroom Resources
Business Intelligence on the Microsoft Platform - Building a BI Demo Server – This file is a supplemental component of the "Business Intelligence on the Microsoft Platform" and it illustrates the steps needed to build a BI Demo Server.
Introduction to Transact-SQL - This very complete course about the language Transac-SQL and its use in SQL Server. It shows the treatment of data, how to create, modify, group, resume, combine, consult and more operations with data. It also describes the installation and administration of DB.
Software
Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) - MSDN AA is the easiest and most inexpensive way for students and faculty in the technology and design fields to get the latest Microsoft software they need.
Microsoft SQL Server Home Page – Microsoft SQL Server home page with a great assortment of SQL Server resources and information
Books
Data Mining with SQL Server 2005 - Serving as your expert guide, this book shows you how to create and implement data mining applications that will find the hidden patterns from your historical datasets. The authors explore the core concepts of data mining as well as the latest trends.
Microsoft SQL Server Book List – an aggregated list of Microsoft SQL Server books
Introduction to Data Mining – By Pang-Ning Tan, Michael Steinbach, and Vipin Kumar
Training
Microsoft SQL Server Training Courses – an aggregated list of available Microsoft SQL Server Training Courses
Beginner Learning Videos
Virtual Labs
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Virtual Labs – virtual labs do not require any software installs or configuration changes and let you work with the latest technology with real hands on labs