So I’ve been a bit heads down in writing land trying to finish the primary content for my new book Pro SQL Server 2008 Failover Clustering. My original goal was to have it done for TechEd and in the book store there, but alas, that just isn’t going to happen. Right now I’m finishing the edit of Chapter 6, so as of today, the first six chapters are getting close to completion. I should see final copy edited versions soon. As far as content, I’m finishing up Chapter 8 (Administration) which will be done in the next few days, and have one left (Chapter 9 which deals with virtualization and failover clustering).

The slight delay in publication has worked in my favor as I’ve been able to work in content around Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Now, having said that, I’m a bit bummed that I couldn’t make TechEd. However, you guys have a great opportunity I just found out about. Over at the website for my publisher, Apress, they have a program called the Alpha Program. The Alpha Program is where as soon as chapters have been first edited, they are put up in Adobe PDF format for you to download and read. These are NOT the final versions, but you do not have to wait for the content.  I will warn you: with some chapters I can definitively say that they have changed and been rearranged; others have not been touched much. Some, due to page count, have lost some screen shots (but really, doesn’t affect anything as some were redundant), so if you want those versions of the chapters, this is your chance to get them.

The bonus is that not only do you get alpha/preview versions of the chapters, but when the final book is done, you get that as an eBook. I think it is a really good deal for $27.99 (which is less than the print book which lists at $39.99). To order the Alpha book, click here.

As of today, Chapters 1 – 5 are up there, and I’m told 6 (which is the chapter which covers the actual clustering of SQL Server 2008) will be posted shortly.