The Bit Bucket

Ola has produced another update of his database management scripts. If you haven’t taken a look at them, you should. At the very least, they’ll give you good ideas about what to implement and how others have done so. The latest update allows targeting multiple devices during backup. This is available in native SQL Server backup and can be helpful with very large databases. Ola’s scripts now support it as well.

2012-09-17

One thing you get to do as you get older, or have been around the industry for a long time, is to pontificate. My pet topic today is passwords. I think that they are, as a concept, now completely broken and have been for a long time.

We tell users:

1. Pick something really complex

2. Don’t write it down

3. Change it regularly

4. Use a different password for each site, and often each role that you hold in each site

2012-08-22

Late last night I got to record an interview with Conor Cunningham.

Most people that know Conor have come across him as the product team wizard that knows so much about query processing and optimization in SQL Server. Conor is currently spending quite a lot of time working on Windows Azure SQL Database, which we used to know as SQL Azure.

I’m still trying to think of a good way to say “WASD”. I suppose I’ll pronounce it like “wassid”. Windows Azure SQL Reporting is easier. I think it just needs to be pronounced like “wazza” with a very Australian accent.

2012-08-22

Hi Folks,

I’ve recorded an interview today with SQL Server MVP Louis Davidson. In it, Louis discusses some of his thoughts on database design and his latest book.

You’ll find the podcast here: https://sqldownunder.com/Resources/Podcast.aspx

And you’ll find his latest book (Pro SQL Server 2012 Relational Database Design and Implementation) here: http://www.amazon.com/Server-Relational-Database-Implementation-Professional/dp/1430236957/ref=sr _1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344997477&sr=8-2&keywords=louis+davidson

Enjoy!

2012-08-15

The query performance tuning class has been a popular class but we’ve only been running it in local cities. We’re now running it in a fully-interactive instructor-led online class, complete with hosted hands-on labs. Later this year it will also be available amongst our upcoming on-demand training offerings.

If you’re keen to spend some time in a query performance tuning class, let us know.

For the online offering, we’ve spread it over 4 x 1/2 days to make it easier to attend. We’ve got the same hands-on-labs and course content as the in-person class. The labs are hosted so you don’t need to provide equipment but we have a lower cost attendance option if you don’t need the hosted labs.

2012-08-13

One of the things I’ve always wanted in DBCC CHECKDB is the option to omit particular tables from the check. The situation that I often see is that companies with large databases often have only one or two very large tables. They want to run a DBCC CHECKDB on the database to check everything except those couple of tables due to time constraints.

I posted a request on the Connect site about time some time ago:

2012-07-02

Great to see the advice from Gail Erickson about the release of a number of SQL Server related eBooks on the new Microsoft eBook Gallery site. It’s good to see this sort of content moving over to eBook formats.

The e-books that are currently available include:

• SQL Server 2012 Transact-SQL DML Reference
• Master Data Services Capacity Guidelines
• Microsoft SQL Server AlwaysOn Solutions Guide for High Availability and Disaster Recovery
• QuickStart: Learn DAX Basics in 30 Minutes
• Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services Multidimensional Performance and Operations Guide

2012-06-14

Well it’s been a few months but I’m back on a roll creating some SQL Down Under podcasts. The first out the door is an interview with Gadi Peleg from the SQL Server team, introducing Data Quality Services.

Gadi came to Microsoft when Zoomix was acquired.

Details of this podcast (and other available podcasts) are here: https://sqldownunder.com/Resources/Podcast.aspx

Hope you enjoy it even though there are some telling signs that I recorded it at 3AM :-)

2012-06-14

There are lots of reports of data quality services (DQS) not working after installing CU1 for SQL Server 2012. One symptom is that when trying to connect from the DQS client, you receive the following error: “System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException (0x80131904): An error occurred in the Microsoft .NET Framework while trying to load assembly id 65581”

After applying CU1, you need to execute:

dqsinstaller.exe -upgrade

This is typically from the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn (but depends upon your installation path)

2012-04-27

Great to see our buddy Ola Hallengren has created an updated version of his database maintenance scripts. Many people use these in place of the database maintenance plans that ship with SQL Server.

Here’s the updated info from Ola and the best part is that they continue to be free:

New Version Available

A new version of the SQL Server Maintenance Solution is now available. The new version supports SQL Server 2012.

2012-04-22