There is nothing that beats a simple checklist for ensuring that things don't get forgotten in the Database Maintenance process. Once again, Buck Woody imagines how the US military would have tackled DBA checklists for 'mission-critical' databases. … Read more
In this final look into his everyday essentials, Laerte Junior provides some useful scripts for the DBA that use an alternative way of error-logging. He shows how to use a PowerShell script to check and, if necessary, to defragment your indexes, write data to a SQL Server table, and change the collation for a table. Being an exceptional DBA just got a little easier.… Read more
In which Buck Woody imagines how the US military would have tackled DBA checklists for 'mission-critical' databases. And having imagined it, lo, it came to be. The CTL for the DBA with short-back-and-sides.… Read more
Laerte Junior takes us further into the world of an Exceptional PowerShell DBA, showing us how he uses PowerShell 2.0 to take all the headaches out of even more of his daily checklist. What could be better than having your morning checklist run itself?… Read more
'Help, my database ate my disk drives!'. Many DBAs spend most of their time dealing with variations of the problem of database processes consuming too much disk space. This happens because of errors such as incorrect configurations for recovery models, data growth for large objects and queries that overtax TempDB resources. Rodney describes, with some feeling, the errors that can lead to this sort of crisis for the working DBA, and their solution.… Read more
Sometimes, all a DBA needs, to help with day-to-day work, is a checklist of best-practices and dos and don'ts. It provides a handy reminder. Brad has come up with a new update to his famous checklist… Read more
Maintenance plans are essential. Microsoft provide two tools, the Maintenance Plan Wizard and the Maintenance Plan designer, to assist the busy DBA to get started with one, but they don't include all the likely tasks, so Custom-created T-SQL or PowerShell scripts are usually required sooner or later to provide a more comprehensive plan… Read more
Even though there are many other ways to get data into a database, nothing works quite as fast as BCP, once it is set up with the right parameters and format file. Despite its usefulness, the art of using the command-line utility has always seemed more magic than method; but now along comes Robert Sheldon to shed light on the murky details.… Read more
Inspired by Brad McGehee's 'How to Become an Exceptional DBA', Laerte decided it was high time he took a proactive approach to his work. Using PowerShell, he came up with a solution that makes finding and fixing orphaned users as easy as cake, and now he's sharing it with us.… Read more
Here you will find wholesome SQL Server installations on the menu, complete with Express, Continental and Deluxe breakfast choices, depending on your application's appetite. This is the article where your new SQL Server installation is completely yours, having not as yet been turned over to the general populace of developers or users. Enjoy it while you can: From the SQL Server Tacklebox
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Josef Richberg is an exceptional person: The Judges of the Exceptional DBA Award were quickly proved right in their decision to choose him, when he subsequently showed extraordinary resilience and determination in the face of an unexpected diagnosis of cancer. His determination to deal positively with a difficult life-event is surely a source of inspiration to all of us.… Read more
Anith follows up his highly successful article Facts and Fallacies about First Normal Form with a fascinating discussion of five common database design errors which persist in spite of the fact that the unfortunate consequences of their use is so widely known. It is a needy reminder to anyone who has to design databases.… Read more
In this article, taken from Chapter 8 of his new book, SQL Server Tacklebox, Rodney describes how a working DBA goes about troubleshooting data corruption. He demonstrates the tools and scripts required to seek out and fix data corruption in a timely manner, and so prevent it propagating into your backups.… Read more
Despite the fact DBAs are protectors of an organization's knowledge, and privy to much confidential information, there is no clearly defined set of rules and standards to help govern and guide their ethical conduct. Brad McGehee, in an article based on a chapter from the second edition of his book 'How to Become an Exceptional DBA', discusses a Code of Conduct for DBAs. He advises on why such a code is required, the sort of topics it should contain, and how it might be enforced. Much of this article has relevance for any IT professional.… Read more
Python is increasingly used by DBAs as a general-purpose scripting language, despite the pressure to adopt Microsoft's PowerShell. They find it easy to learn, powerful, and reasonably intuitive. Here Timothy Wiseman, a working DBA, explains the attraction of Python and gives a general introduction to the language, suitable for anyone who has been wondering whether to give it a try.
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As a DBA, how well-prepared are you to tackle issues such as backup failure due to lack of disk space, or locking and blocking that is preventing critical business processes from running, or data corruption due to a power failure in the disk subsystem? If you have any hesitation in your answers to these questions, then Rodney Landrum's SQL Server Tacklebox is a must-read.… Read more
Rob Sheldon tackles the subject of Index Defragmentation in SQL Server 2005 and 2008, using the sys.dm_db_index_physical_stats system function. He shows how to analyze indexes and, if necessary, how to go about reorganizing or rebuilding indexes. He makes the point that, by analyzing indexes effectively, you can save a lot of unnecessary rebuilding of indexes.… Read more
In this article, taken from Chapter 5 of his great new book, SQL Server Tacklebox, Rodney describes in his own unique style how he, as a working DBA, goes about troubleshooting
problem queries, and investigating various types of locking and blocking
problems. In the process, he passes on valuable tips learned from
practical, and sometimes stressful, experience.… Read more
Index Maintenance Plans are essential for the well-being of a database. However, there is more to the process than just the use of the wizard. Brad McGehee takes this one stage further in suggesting that, instead, you should create your own index maintenance tasks that you can schedule to run using the SQL Server Agent.… Read more
In order to best appreciate the reasons for, or importance of, the various administrative tasks that are needed for indexes, it is a good idea to take a look at how the various types of indexes work. Who better to help with a clear expanation for this than Brad McGehee?… Read more
