SQL Server user group SQLBits is heading to Newport, Wales, from November 19-21 for its fifth major conference.
SQLBits claims to be Europe's largest SQL Server group. The event's organisers say that they chose a Welsh venue to make a change from the usual London or Thames Valley-based tech conferences. Cardiff Airport, they point out, is easy to get to from anywhere in Europe.
The three-day SQLBits Goes West show features a day of pre-conference seminars on November 19. November 20 has been set aside for a day dedicated to SQL 2008 and SQL 2008 R2. November 21 is the free SQLBits community conference featuring around 90 sessions. The impressive no-cost agenda covers everything from a whistle-stop tour of SSIS add-ins to an introduction to DMX. It even takes in a light-hearted look at elementary Welsh for DBAs under the premise that as global warming means London data centres will soon be underwater, the Welsh hills will be prime real estate for firms wanting new wind-farm driven data centres.
Speakers include Microsoft's Donald Farmer, programme manager on the Analysis Services/Gemini dev team, and Thomas Kejser from the SQLCat team as well as the SQLBits organisation's own MVPs Simon Sabin, Allan Mitchell and Chris Webb.
For the full agenda, further lowdown and registration, see the SQLBits website.