SQL Data Quality Services (in next release Denali) vs. MDS

Question

Hello, all.  I just read some information on the next release of SQL Server...Denali.  The article mentioned a new technology for DQ, cleansing, profiling, end user data management (ie data steward).  I couldn't help but think of MDS, which I'm currently reading about, and anxious to begin using.  I'm interesting in knowing how each compares to the other, what's the product positioning of DQS, and if MDS will evolve into DQS via the Denali release.  In other related thoughts are welcomed as well.

Thanks all.

Roz

Answer 1

Hi Roz

please watch this presentation

http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2011/DBI204

yesterday there was an online presentation from Microsoft about MDS Denali (not the same as above, which is older)

we were able to see that Excel with MDS in Denali will be very useful.

a new "Master Data" tab is present in Excel once you've installed the add-in

there will not be a DQS API for Denali, but it will be used for MDS, mainly in Excel, in this "Master Data" tab

you can click on "Match" button, to deduplicate your data or make more general matching analysis and cleansing, profiling.

it seems to be very powerful.

DQS and MDS will work together, as DQS is like an extension of MDS (I imagine that DQS can also be used in "standalone" mode (?) )

there are also some great UI improvement in MDS Denali: silverlight is mainly used, and data reading and writing  is so much faster than previous 2008R2 version!

you can also manage your data within excel, create entites, insert/delete/update data from Excel, validate business rules.

Denali CTP3 is about to be released in the next few days. wait and see...

Regards,

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Xavier Averbouch
Microsoft Community Contributor
Avanade , FRANCE
If a post answers your question, please click "Mark As Answer" on that post and "Vote as Helpful".

Answer 2

Xavier,

Thanks for the reply.  Glad to hear of the improvements in MDS.  I suspect since MDS is a first generation Microsoft product obtained thru a purchase that subsequent releases will refine the product.  MDS is a perfect complement to SQL Server and evolves SQL Server into the MDM space.

Any idea when Denali will be released (RTM), and what the product will be called?

Regards,
Roz

Answer 3

Roz,

there is still no official announcement as to when we will expect to see Denali released for RTM, but as I've heard, CTP3 should arrive in the next few days( or hours...)

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3653.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/product-info/future-editions.aspx

Regards,

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Xavier Averbouch
Microsoft Community Contributor
Avanade , FRANCE
If a post answers your question, please click "Mark As Answer" on that post and "Vote as Helpful".

Answer 4

Hi Roz and Xavier,

SQL Server Data Quality Services (DQS) is a "new" feature that is coming in Denali, and you can soon experience it yourself when the CTP3 release is out (very soon). It is different from MDS, and you can have detailed information about what will the feature offer here:

http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2011/DBI207

Of course with the release of SQL Server Denali CTP 3, you will have many more resources available for the Data Quality Services feature that you can access to learn about it. I will update you with the link to the DQS CTP3 content on MSDN and Wiki when it is available to the public

Thanks,

Vivek
Technical Writer, DQS

Answer 5

Hello,

The CTP 3 content is available now for public, and you can view it here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms130214(v=SQL.110).aspx.

The DQS documentation is available at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff877925(v=sql.110).aspx.

Thanks,
Vivek
Technical Writer, DQS