If you are near Cambridge, England, I will be speaking at the Cambridge SQL Server Users Group on Wednesday, March 24, 2010.
Category Archives: Database Administration
SQL Server 2005 & 2008 SP Release Dates
Microsoft has announced that Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2008 will be released in the third quarter of 2010, and that Service Pack 4 for SQL Server 2005 will be released in the fourth quarter of 2010. Find out more here.
Searching for Objects or Text Strings Using SQL Search
As a DBA, at one time or another, you will need to quickly find an object within a database, such as a table, view, or stored procedure. In other cases, it is handy to be able to search objects to locate specific text strings. Depending on which version of SQL Server you are using, you have had several choices.
Questions About SQL Server Backups
SQL Server backups are a “funny” topic to talk about. If you are talking with experienced DBAs, the topic of backups rarely surfaces, as this is a fundamental skill most DBAs learn early in their career. On the other hand, there are thousands of part-time, accidental DBAs who are tasked with making backups, and they need a lot of help in learning these basics.
But We Have Always Done It That Way
I recently ran across the following scenario. A SQL Server instance had been upgraded from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008. At the same time, the older physical hardware had been replaced by newer hardware. The DBA who had set up and configured the older server was no longer at the organization, and a new DBA had performed the upgrade. After the upgrade was completed, I was asked to review its configuration. I started by reviewing the various server and database settings, along with the assorted database maintenance jobs, and then I began to ask questions about them.
DBA Checklist Updated
I have recently updated and revised my DBA Best Practices Checklist, which is hosted on www.Simple-Talk.com. The goal of the list is not to cover every aspect of SQL Server administration, but to hit the highlights. In addition, not every item in the checklist will apply to every SQL Server instance, under every circumstance. So like any list of SQL Server best practices, don’t forget that they may or may not apply to your environment.
If you would like to add your own items to the checklist, or to provide other feedback on the checklist, please do so here, and I will try to include your feedback the next time I update the list.
Brad M McGehee 