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Questions About Amazon Data Migration Service (AWS DMS) That You Were Too Shy to Ask

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Can you imagine it? You are in a group of smart database people, and they are debating the finer points about AWS DMS, and you don't even know what the letters stand for. You just feel too shy to ask those basic questions that seem ridiculous once you're up to speed. Laerte Junior answers all the questions you need answers for when facing the prospect of getting familiar with Amazon's useful Database Migration Servic… Read more
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Questions About RDS SQL Server That You Were Too Shy to Ask

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There are a number of different ways that you can host SQL Server. RDS SQL Server, for example, uses SQL Server within AWS as a simple database service, much like a more versatile alternative to MySQL. Obviously, it is a compromise, in that you lose many of the extras beyond the database. Laerte Junior answers those questions about RDS that people seem to assume you know the answers to, but which you may be too shy to ask.… Read more
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Investigating the Cause of SQL Server High CPU Load Conditions When They Happen

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Any DBA who is trying to find the cause of an intermittent problem with a server or database dreams of being able to use a query or procedure take a snap of the relevant variables at the point when the problem occurred. Laerte takes an example of a slow-running query hogging resources to show that you can run queries when a WMI alert is fired, and save the results for later inspection, whenever it happens.… Read more
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Automating the Synchronization of RDS SQL Server Agent Jobs in a Multi-AZ Environment

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Although Azure is the obvious Cloud service to host SQL Server, Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) for SQL Server is a good choice when your organisation uses AWS. RDS deals with maintenance and monitoring, and supports the use of PowerShell to automate routine tasks. What if a script needs to be triggered by an unscheduled event? Even in this case, RDS can be configured to run scripts to react when something like a failover happens. Laerte Junior shows how easy it is to set up Lambda functions and some PowerShell scripts to automatically synchronise agent jobs after a failover.… Read more
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Invoke-SqlCmd Just Got Better!

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If you’ve read even just a few of my articles on Simple-Talk you know that I’m a big fan of PowerShell + SQL Server.  Over the years I have written a lot about how to collect data from your SQL Servers and store it somewhere, maybe in a database, maybe in a word document. Well … Read more
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The PoSh DBA: Accessing SQL Server from PowerShell

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The worst part for a DBA of getting started with PowerShell is often just figuring out the best way of working with SQL Server. The most suitable approach to accessing SQL Server depends on the sort of task you need to produce a script for. Laerte Junior aims at a simple guide to the most common approaches and when to use them.… Read more
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Quick Tip – Changing the SQLSERVER: location after import SQLPS module

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You probably already must have realized when you import the SQLPS module the current location will be the SQL Server Provider : If you want to change it and after imported it not keeps in the SQL Server Provider, just open the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\XXX\Tools\PowerShell\Modules\SQLPS\SqlPsPostScript.PS1 and add the line Set-Location c:, as you … Read more
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The PoSh DBA: Assigning Data to Variables Via PowerShell Common Parameters

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Sometimes, it is the small improvements in a language that can make a real difference. PowerShell is able to introduce extra common parameters that can be used by any Cmdlet or advanced function. When -PipelineVariable was introduced in V4, we all wondered what it could be used for. Laerte experimented and discovered that it could be a real convenience in every-day scripting with the pipeline.… Read more
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The PoSh DBA – Using the Basic PowerShell Paradigms

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PowerShell is like any computer language: you must understand the paradigms, the constructs, and the way it is designed to work to get the most value from it. It is no good just translating 'sausage-string' procedural algorithms. To demonstrate how PowerShell should be used as its' creators intended, Laerte Junior shows the difference between PowerShell problem-solving with, and without, PowerShell paradigms.… Read more
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Automating Your SQL Server Best Practice Reports: The Document

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If you're making a report from table-based data, an MS Word document is often a good option. In the second part of his introduction to SQL Server best-practice monitoring, Laerte Junior shows how to use PowerShell scripts to create a Word-based report with colour-coded alerts where there are problems or best practices aren't being followed.… Read more
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Automating Your SQL Server Best Practice Reports:The Checks

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A DBA in charge of a whole lot of databases and servers has to check regularly that there are no likelihood of problems. The task is well suited for automation as workload increases. Laerte Junior introduces a PowerShell-based reporting framework that aims to simply provide a Word-based report with colour-coded alerts where there are problems or best practices aren't being followed.… Read more
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The PoSh DBA – Specifying and Gathering Performance Counters

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If you are needing to keep tabs on a number of servers and applications in a Windows domain then performance counters provide the bedrock of information. It is important to identify the counters you need and gather baseline data to allow you to create alerts when abnormal conditions occur. When it comes to monitoring SQL Server, don't guess, collect.… Read more
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The PoSH DBA – SQLPSX: SQL Server PowerShell Extensions

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Every DBA needs to know about SQLPSX, the PowerShell module library that is built by DBAs for DBAs, and designed to provide intuitive functions around the SMO objects. It makes the automation of database administration easier across all versions of SQL Server since SQL Server 2000. Laerte Junior, who is one of the developers on the open-source project, describes how to use it.… Read more
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The PoSh DBA – Getting to know PowerShell

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Although it was primarily designed for System Administrators, PowerShell is now extending its use to Database, SharePoint, Exchange and all Microsoft products. In this article Laerte Junior offers an introduction to PowerShell and describes how DBAs can use PowerShell to automate repetitive tasks. He also explains when to use PowerShell instead of, or in addition to, T-SQL and SSIS.… Read more
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