Greg Larsen's Blog

Free Training

Greg Larsen — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:41:00 GMT

Want some free SQL Server training? If so keep your eyes open for SQL Saturday events in your area. SQL Saturday is a mini-summit that uses the multiple presentation and track format. These sessions are presented by industry experts and peers that have a desire to sharing information related to SQL Server.

So far a number different SQL Server Saturday events have already been held, and more are being organized all the time. At the present time SQL Saturday event #5 and #6 are calling for speakers, and open for registration. Go to SQLSaturday.com to find out more about where these events are being held. If one is being held locally in your area and you have a passion for speaking consider submit a session abstract. If speaking isn’t your thing then at least register for the event to reserve your spot since seating at these events are limited.

Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition GDR

Greg Larsen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:05:00 GMT

More stuff related to SQL Server 2008. At Tech*Ed 2008 Developer last week they announced the immediate availability of the first public CTP of the Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition GDR. You can read more about it here: http://blogs.msdn.com/gertd/archive/2008/06/03/vsts-2008-database-edition-gdr-june-ctp.aspx

SQL Server 2008 Editions

Greg Larsen — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:16:00 GMT

Over the last few months Microsoft has been having many different launch events worldwide for their 2008 products: Visual Studio 2008, Windows 2008, and SQL Server 2008. I had the opportunity to attend one of these launch events. Being a SQL Server DBA I attended the Data track of their rollout. In this track they discuss all the new features that are being incorporated into SQL Server 2008. What this presentation missed was discussion related to the different editions available with SQL Server 2008, and which features where available by edition. To me it seems like a lot of the cool new features all seem to be implemented in the Enterprise edition. But there are still a number of exciting new features in the other editions as well. Here are some links you can use to compare the features by edition.

Compare the Enterprise and Standard Edition:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/d/f/2df66c0c-fff2-4f2e-b739-bf4581cee533/SQLServer%202008CompareEnterpriseStandard.pdf

Comparing Compact and Express edition:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/8/8/e8859616-e95d-41fe-9f81-ff88388d772b/SQLServer%202008CompareComapctExpress.pdf

SQL Server Patch Management Methodology

Greg Larsen — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:51:00 GMT

As most of you probably already know Cummulative Update #7 for SQL Server 2005 was released on April 17^th. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949095). Also Microsoft has now said they will be providing a Service Pack 3 sometime after SQL Server 2008 has been release to manafacture (http://blogs.technet.com/dataplatforminsider/archive/2008/04/15/sql-server-2005-sp3-coming-soon.aspx). So one way or another you should consider how you plan to patch your SQL Server 2005 machines.

As I see it there are three different patch management strategies you can take. The first option is every 8 weeks when a new Cummulative Update comes out from Microsoft install it. This will keep you up to date with all the fixes close to when they come out. The second option is to only apply the specific hotfixes that you need to resolve what ever problems you encounter. And now with Server Pack 3 coming out in the future you have a third option, and that is wait until SP3 comes out and apply it.

Now in our shop we have decided to do use a combination of option 2 and 3. We have decided this because of this language in the Cummulative Updates:

A supported cumulative update package is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problems that are described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing these specific problems. This cumulative update package may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by any of these problems, we recommend that you wait for the next SQL Server 2005 service pack that contains the hotfixes in this cumulative update package.

We feel that if all fixes in a Cummulative Update have not be thoroughly tested then we don’t want to apply the Cummulative Update. Although if we have a problem that is fixed with a particular hotfix then we will apply that hotfix patch.

Lastly we have decided that when applying a hotfix we will setup a test environment to verify the hotfix does in fact fix a problem we have identified. If we can’t verify it fixes a problem, and/or causes additional problems it will not be rolled into our production environment. When we apply Service Packs we also apply it in a test environment first. But we also will perform some additional application testing to verify nothing breaks due to rolling out a Service Pack.

So how are you applying Cummulative Updates, and what is your Patch Management Methodology?

GIS Data Types in SQL Server 2008

Greg Larsen — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:19:00 GMT

SQL Server 2005 has some new GIS data types. How many of you are GIS savvy? Well I’ll by the first one to admit that I don’t work with GIS data. But I am starting to look at SQL Server 2008 and trying to encourage our GIS guy to look at the new GIS data types within SQL Server. Today the Redmond Magazine has an article where John Baleja, senior product manager at mapping software provider ESRI says “…will be easier integration with other applications, more security and possibly better performance.” Now as I already said I know very little about GIS data, but this statement by an ESRI management type would lead me to believe that have GIS data types in SQL Server 2008 might be a big deal, a good thing, and something worth looking at. When I told our GIS guy about this article, the GIS data types, and suggested he might want to look at how SQL Server 2008 might support storing his layers of GIS data he said something like “I must not have enough to do if I’m thinking how SQL Server 2008 will support GIS”. I see these new data GIS data types as an opportunity to determine if we can leverage SQL Server 2088 to better support our existing environment. I’m interested in hearing your comments about the new Spatial Data types in SQL Server 2008. Will these new data type really make your environment more security, and provide a boost in performance for your GIS data stores? For you GIS types out there do you see value in migrating your GIS data into SQL Server 2008?

Three New Visual Studio 2008 MCTS Exams Announced

Greg Larsen — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:25:00 GMT

Three Visual Studio 2008 MCTS came out today (see below). Passing one of these exams along with the Exam 70-536 TS: .NET Framework, Application Development Foundation are need to get ceritfied.

Exam 70-502 TS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Presentation Foundation Application Development http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-502.mspx

Exam 70-503 TS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Foundation Application Development
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-503.mspx

Exam 70-504 TS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Foundation Application Development
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-504.mspx

More testing opportunities, Greg, MCITPhttp://sqlservexamples.com

SQL Server Networking

Greg Larsen — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:31:00 GMT

Did you think this post had something to do with the routers, switches and wires connecting SQL Server machines to the World Wide Web? If so you are wrong. This post has to do with my experience working one of the vendor booths at the “Heroes Happen Here” launch last week. For those of you that don’t know what the “Heroes Happen Here” launch is all about let me give you the scoop. These are events held all over the world , and this is where Microsoft is communicating to the IT community all the great things that about the new Visual Studio, Window Server and SQL Server 2008 versions have to offer. If you need more information about these events and want to find a launch near you check out this website: http://www.microsoft.com/heroeshappenhere/register/default.mspx

This blog entry has nothing do with the new 2008 products, but has more to do with communicating my experience working the PASS booth at the Seattle “Heroes Happen Here” launch. For those of you that don’t know about PASS, it stands for Professional Association for SQL Server. It is a worldwide community dedicated to Microsoft SQL Server professionals. PASS holds a summit in Europe and the United States once a year. Each of these summit events brings together thousands of SQL Server professionals to discuss SQL Server issues, topics, and events. These summit events are held over a number of days and provide some of the best training opportunities, from SQL Server gurus and normal SQL Server DBA/developer types like you. The next summit will be held in Seattle on November 17-22 2008. If you are interested in knowing more about PASS or signing up for the summit at a limited time reduced rate check out the PASS website here: http://sqlpass.org

Not only does PASS have two annual summits on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but the PASS community also consists of over 80 local PASS user group chapters. These local user groups are scattered all over the globe. Each local user group is run a little different but they all have one thing in common, they hold routine local user group meetings to discuss SQL Server related topics. These meetings typical have one or two SQL Server related presentations per meeting. These local PASS chapter meetings are a great place to learn more about SQL Server and/or share your experience with other SQL Server types in your region of the world.

Ok, now back to may PASS booth experience at the Seattle launch. While at the PASS booth hundreds of people stopped by asking what PASS was all about. This was not really surprising in itself because many people that use Visual Studio and/or Windows Server don’t all have SQL Server in their environment. But what surprised me the most was the number of SQL Server individuals that never knew there was a PASS organization, much less that there were local PASS user group chapters right in their own backyard. I’m a local PASS chapter leader in Olympia, Washington so working the PASS both allowed me a great opportunity tospread the word about my PASS local chapter, the PASS organization, as well as time to talk with developers and other DBAs about their SQL Server Experience.

If you are reading this post you probably have a vested interest in SQL Server and learning more about it. Do you know the location of the closest PASS chapter user group is in your area? These local PASS chapter groups are a great opportunity to network with other SQL Server geeks, and get some great training at the same time. Did I mention that most of these user group opportunities are free. So if you don’t already know where the nearest PASS chapter is in your part of the World then you should check out the “Chapters” link on the PASS website above.

If you’d like to know more about local PASS chapters, and can’t find out everything you need to know about it on the PASS website, drop me a note at gregalarsen@sqlpass.org . I’ll do my best to answer your questions, and if I can’t answer them I’ll find someone that can.

Are you a member of PASS? Do you belong to a local PASS chapter? If not what is stopping you? Join the PASS family now and start receiving great SQL Server training and information.

Happy PASS Networking,

Greg Larsen, MCITP
http://sqlserverexamples.com

Performance Audit

Greg Larsen — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:57:00 GMT

How many of you do a Performance Audit of your SQL Server instances? I’ll have to admit I have never done a formal performance audit of our SQL Server instances. But to give myself some credit, back in 2007 I identified a number of DBA goals for 2008, and one of those was to developing a criteria and method of doing a performance audit. I’m going to venture to guess that most of you also have never done a performance audit as well.

Today Brad McGehee, the Directory of DBA Education from Red-Gate software came to the Olympia Area SQL Server User group, which I chair, and talked about performance auditing. His presentation was very well done and received by members of my user group. Brad talked about all the different things that should be audited, and the tools you should use to perform an audit. What I took away from Brads presentation is that a DBA needs to be proactive when it comes to SQL Server performance, they need to determine which performance measures are important for their environment, they need to develop a method to gather the actual value for each measurement, and lastly they need to periodically run their performance audit to determine if performance is decreasing, staying the same or getting better.

Most of the information Brad talked about regarding a performance audit can be found in his articles that are published on this site. You can also click HERE for the slide deck Brad used for his presentation.

What do you see as the benefits to doing a performance audit? Know of any drawbacks? What kinds of guidance do you have for performance auditing newbie’s? Please share your performance auditing experiences however big or small with the SQL Server Performance community by placing a comment on this blog?

May your performance audits be worthwhile,

Greg Larsen, MCITP

http://sqlserverexamples.com

SQL Server 2008 Certifications

Greg Larsen — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:11:00 GMT

Last week there was a forum post about getting certified for SQL Server. The poster was asking about resources and how one should prepare for the MCDBA certification. The MCDBA certification is a SQL Server 2000 certification. At one point a number of years back it was the certification to have if you where a DBA, but now with SQL Server 2000 soon to be two versions back you probably should focus on one of SQL Server 2005 certifications, or wait for SQL Server 2008 certification to come out.

Certifications are a great way to get your foot in the door and show potential employers that you know something about the technology for whatever job you might be applying for. Even having an old certification is better than having no certification at all. So what should one do now if they want to get certified in SQL Server?

If you really need a certification now to can get a new job, keep your existing job, or get promoted in your present situation then you will want to go for either the MCITP: Database Administrator, or the MCITP: Database Developer. More information about these certifications can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcitp/dbadmin/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcitp/dbdev/default.mspx

Now if you decide you don’t need a SQL Server certification right now then you might want wait until the SQL Server 2008 certifications come out. Right now it is my understanding the SQL Server 2008 exams are going through an Alpha review. Once the Alpha review is completed Microsoft will be looking for beta testers for their SQL Server 2008 certification exams. Beta tests are free. Microsoft uses these beta test opportunities to further verify review whether the questions measure the objectives of the certification. It is my understanding that if you pass the one of these Beta tests then Microsoft will provide you with a certificate. I would encourage everyone to take the beta SQL Server 20008 exam when then come out. What do you have to lose, a free test and a certification if you pass the test. Here is a Livemeeting where you can find our more information about the SQL Server certifications:
https://www107.livemeeting.com/cc/lmevents/view?id=msft020608lm&role=attend&pw=ATT10275529

If you want to be one of the first ones to know about the SQL Server 2008 exams will be available then register here: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/sqlvs/offer/default.mspx. If you have any thoughts or comments about SQL Server certification then feel free to provide comments and feedback on my blog post.

Happy Testing,

Greg Larsen, MCITP
http://sqlserverexamples.com

Is T-SQL Dead?

Greg Larsen — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:31:00 GMT

On Tuesday I went to the SQL Server 2008 launch in Seattle. Of course the launch was more than just SQL Server 2008, it also included Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. So there was a lot of BUZZ about 2008 stuff going on.

I attended one of the presentations on Visual Studio 2008 that was talking about LINQ. LINQ stands for Language Integrated Query. In this presentation they talked about how programmers can now get SQL Data into a object model using something called “LINQ to SQL”. So I browsed the web for LINQ to SQL document and here is a blurb from a Microsoft document :

“In LINQ to SQL, the data model of a relational database is mapped to an object model expressed in the programming language of the developer.”

Now by looking at this statement I get the impression that Microsoft thinks developers don’t use T-SQL as a programming language. So I wonder if LINQ will be the end of T-SQL code. I don’t think so! In fact I’m hoping our organization doesn’t start hiring a bunch of developers that don’t know T-SQL. I think there is value in leveraging new technology, but I think developers better understand what is behind the smoke and mirrors of LINQ. Meaning I think developers better understand T-SQL and how it is used to support converting SQL Server data into an object model.

I think developers better understand T-SQL. Without this understanding I fear we are going to get a bunch of poor performing database applications using these new SQL Server access methods! Am I wrong in thinking this? Please provide your thoughts by commenting on how you think LINQ will affect SQL Server database performance.

If you want to read more in the document I referred to above you can find it here:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386976.aspx

Greg Larsen, MCITP

http://sqlserverexamples.com

Save Disk Space with SQL Server 2008 DATETIME2 Data Type

Greg Larsen — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:33:00 GMT

I was spending some time over the last few weeks researching new features in SQL Server 2008 for a presentation I gave today at the Olympia Area SQL Server User Group in Tumwater, Washington, USA. So of course I had to take a closer look at the new date/time data types as part of this review.

Most everyone knows that there are a number of different date/time related data types coming out with SQL Server 2008. But for this BLOG post I want to focus in on just one new data type, DATETIME2. The new DATETIME2 data type is much like the existing DATETIME data type, except that it allows more percision for the time portion of the date/time. This new data type can now support time values that are accurate to 100 nanoseconds.

This new DATETIME2 data type allows you to specify how much percision you want to store in the time portion. The more percision you want the more disk space it take. A DATETIME2 data type takes from 6 to 8 bytes depending on the percision.

While I was building my examples for my user group presentation I built some queries that showed how much storage was taken for each of the different percisions. While building my DATALENGTH function calls for different DATETIME2 percisions I found out something amazing about the DATETIME2(3) format. If you use a DATETIME2(3) format for a date/time column instead of a DATETIME data type it stores the same data value but using one less byte. Thats right 7 bytes instead of 8.

Now I know saving 1 byte doesn't seem like a lot. But now multiple that by the number of different dates you might have in your 10 million record table. That savings of 1 byte could account for a substainal savings of disk space. I know disk space is cheap these days. But if you use less disk space to store your records then that equates to more records read per I/O, and faster query performance. So if you like the exiting percision of DATETIME, then remember to use DATETIME2(3) data type when you start building SQL Server 2008 applications.

Happy database designing,

Greg Larsen, MCITP

Think Green

Greg Larsen — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:42:00 GMT

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches I’m sure a number of you will be thinking about lifting a few green beers at your local watering hole. Why you are thinking about all the green items that come along with Saint Patty’s day, how about thinking green for your SQL Server environment.

So about now you are probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. Well I’m talking about how you might reduce that carbon foot print for your SQL Server installations. How are you planning on reducing your consumption of rack/floor space, power, and cooling expenses?

My green effort is to consider consolidation as our organization starts contemplating moving toward SQL Server 2008.
I am researching how I can leverage virtualization along with consolidation to reduce the total cost of ownership for SQL Server 2008. I’m researching Microsoft Virtual Server (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/), Microsoft Hyper-V (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/virtualization-consolidation.aspx) and VMWare ESX Server (http://www.vmware.com/products/vi/esx/) as potential vessels to launch me into the virtual world.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on thinking green for your SQL Server environment. What virtualization strategies are working for you? Are you doing virtualization only in a development environment, or has the virtualization seed also sprouted in your production environment? What software/hardware do you find works best for a virtualized SQL Server environment? Please provide your comments and green thumb experiences, so others can cultivate their own virtualization efforts.

Happy Gardening,
Gregory A. Larsen, MCITP

Sample Databases for SQL Server 2008

Greg Larsen — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:44:00 GMT

I suppose by now all of you know about the lastest SQL Server 2005 beta (CTP6), which was released in February. If you have downloaded and installed this beta or any one of the prior CTP’s you will noticed there are no sample databases installed, which of course is normal.

If you are going to play with SQL Server 2008 you can create your own database. Then use those databases to experiment and play around with the new features of SQL Server 2008. But I personally like to use the sample databases provided from Microsoft.

The advantages of using sample databases is they are already populated and normally have lots of objects and code that take use the new features of SQL Server. Using these sample DBs allow you to explore the new features of SQL Server without building your own DB. Also when you are building examples to share like I do on my site (http://sqlserverexamples.com) it allows you to write T-SQL code that can easily be run by anyone that has installed the appropriate Microsoft sample database. This way you don’t need to spend a great deal of time creating sample data just to share a script to perform a specific task.

In prior versions of SQL Server we have had sample databases named, “Northwind”, “Pubs”, “AdventureWorks”, “AdventureWorksDW”, and so on . Well now with SQL Server 2008, Microsoft has provided some new sample databases. These sample databases are available at CODEPLEX at this location: http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=10901

I personally have only loaded the AdventureWorks2008 sample DB. Since this sample database contains a FILESTREAM object I had to enable the file stream feature just to be able to use this sample DB. You can find out more about installing this sample database here: http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Wiki/View.aspx?title=AW2008Details

So if you are looking to jump start you SQL Server 2008 experience consider downloading one of the sample databases provided by Microsoft. I’ll be writing most of my SQL Server 2008 articles and examples against the AdventureWorks2008 databases. So if you haven’t already downloaded and installed the AdventureWorks2008 sample DB you might just give it test drive. In doing this you will learn how to enable the file stream feature.

Happy Testing,

Greg