New Free eBook: Defensive Database Programming with SQL Server

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Simple-Talk Publishing has released a new, free 291 page eBook called Defensive Database Programming with SQL Server, by Alex Kuznetsov. Here is what the book covers, as described from the book’s introduction.

“Resilient T-SQL code is code that is designed to last, and to be safely reused by others. The goal of defensive database programming, and of this book, is to help you to produce resilient T-SQL code that robustly and gracefully handles cases of unintended use, and is resilient to common changes to the database environment.

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Nominations for the 2010 Exceptional DBA Award are Now Open

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Dan McClainSQLServerCentral.com, along with Red Gate Software, are glad to announce that nominations for the 2010 Exceptional DBA Awards are now open. Three years ago, the award was established to help bring about more awareness regarding the importance of the DBA role among the IT community. The first ever Exceptional DBA Award went to Dan McClain in 2008, and to Josef Richberg in 2009.

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SQL Server Monitoring Checklist

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I have worked with a lot of organizations who have just a small handful of SQL Server instances. In most of these cases, these SQL Servers contain mission-critical data, but on the other hand, these organizations are not big enough to justify a full-time DBA, so either they subcontract the DBA work to an outside organization, or they assign someone from within the company to be the a “part-time” DBA.

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Don’t Forget to Register for the Free 24 Hours of PASS

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The free 24 Hours of PASS event will held May 19 & 20, and includes 24 different one hour presentations on many different aspects of SQL Server, with a special emphasis on SQL Server 2008 R2. You need to register to attend, so sign up today so you won’t forget.

My session, the only professional development topic at the event, is called “Manage Your DBA Career, Don’t Let It Manage You,” is session 13, which will be held at 00:00 GMT on May 20. My session focuses on specific steps you can take to help take control of your career. Of course, if you are in control of your career, then you don’t need to attend.  😉

I will be traveling that week, and will be making my presentation from a hotel room in Dallas.

Besides Being a DBA, Do You Also Happen to be an Exchange Administrator?

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I know a lot of DBAs fall into the category of part-time DBAs, because they work in small IT shops and they often have to wear many hats. I have actually never shared this secret before, but I was an Exchange Administrator before became becoming a full-time DBA, back in the old days when Exchange was the new kid on the block. In fact, I cut my teeth on the old Microsoft Mail (a memory I do my best to block).

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